Wind-loaded slopes above 7,500 feet deserve your attention, where stubborn wind drifts up to a foot deep exist. Look for cracking and shooting cracks, especially near corniced ridgelines, cross-loaded alpine terrain, and steep rollovers. Slabs failing on deeper weak layers (2-3 feet deep) on the north half of the compass are unlikely, but not impossible. As direct sunshine makes an appearance, watch for loose wet avalanches on steep slopes that face the sun. Retreat to shady slopes if you are finding wet, mushy surface snow.

It has been an active few weeks of weather in our forecast area, and things look to remain active, with temperatures continuing to warm. Only a few inches of new snow are forecast to fall on Monday, and conditions are expected to remain dry but incredibly warm by Tuesday. Safe backcountry travel is not easy; it requires you to fully engage your brain and think about the environment you are moving through. Before dropping in or committing to a slope today, ask yourself four questions:

Warm. Has this terrain seen direct sunshine? Slushy surface snow you sink into on your boards or when you step off your sled is a sign of rapidly degrading snow conditions. Wet avalanches can be deceiving, and moving loose snow can trigger a larger avalanche by entraining more slushy surface snow.

Steep. Are you on a steep slope above ~35°? Does the slope roll over into a terrain trap below, such as a gully, cliff band, or pinched runout where even a small slide could have serious consequences?

Windy. Has this terrain seen recent wind? Scoured ridgelines, pillowed lee slopes, and drifts stacking up around rocks and rolls are all signs of wind loading. Loaded slopes can be deceiving; they often look smooth and inviting.