Above, a 27 hour data dump from Windy Peak (10,662') illustrating very predictable wind trends during the recent storm

Not a particularly windy storm for us, but I bet there's a fresh wind drift or two that'll react to our additional weight, especially on steep leeward slopes with an easterly component to their aspect. This is a very manageable avalanche dragon to identify and an equally easy one to avoid. Simply steer clear of any fat, rounded pillows of snow, especially if they feel hollow underfoot.

My hunch is we're moving away from this avalanche problem (see below for a deeper dive), but rather than diving head first into big terrain, play a little mini golf on slopes similar in aspect and elevation and see how they're feeling before blindly punching an aggressive line.

Mild temps, strong spring sunshine, and a whole 'lotta water go a long way to help a snowpack begin healing and I'm psyched the January PWL is feeling some warm love from our recent storms. The good news... the snowpack is beginning to gain strength and other than a subtle whumph or two, I'm encouraged to see it adjusting to the big mid-February storm. Now for the flake news... remember, all we need to do is find a weakness, maybe around a rock or a bush, collapse the pack, and now we're staring down the barrel of a dangerous slide.

Becoming more the exception than the rule, this is still the type of avalanche we can trigger today, if we're able to find a weakness in a thin portion of the slab and knock the legs out from underneath.

During periods of increased snowfall rates or with a kiss of strong sunshine, fresh storm snow will become more reactive to our additional weight, especially on sustained steep slopes, even at lower elevations,