24 hour data dump from Windy Peak (10,662') illustrating wind trends during the recent storm, including some robust periods during yesterday mornings dump-fest.

Winds kicked in to wrap up the work week and they were all over the map, drifting snow on westerly aspects (unusual for us), lower downslope, and in peculiar places. This is a short-term avalanche problem and I suspect the majority of drifts became comfortable in their own skin overnight and won't be quite as touchy as they were yesterday. However, I bet there's a fresh wind drift or two that'll react to our additional weight, especially on steep leeward slopes, like those facing the south half of the compass. 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.

I don't think yesterday's storm was enough weight to irritate the January PWL. My gut feel is we're moving away from this avalanche problem (see below for a deeper dive), but rather than jumping head first into big terrain, I'm dipping a toe in the water and playing mini golf on smaller slopes similar in aspect and elevation to 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. 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.

With strong spring-time sun overhead, fresh storm snow will become more reactive to our additional weight, especially on sustained steep slopes, even at lower elevations.