Strong southerly winds have blown and drifted snow forming wind slabs on northerly aspects right around treeline and above. As new snow begins to accumulate be on the lookout for fresh drifts to form on the leeward sides of ridge crests and terrain features in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain. Avoid steep slopes that have a smooth, rounded appearance and look for signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface. In some areas, a triggered wind slab could step down into a buried persistent weak layer causing a deeper and more dangerous avalanche.

Recent and wind drifted snow has provided enough of a load to affect the layers of weak, sugary, faceted snow that comprises much of the snowpack. You are most likely to trigger an avalanche involving these persistent weak layers on steep, wind loaded, northerly facing slopes right around treeline. Shallow snowpack areas around rocks or along slope margins are likely trigger points.