I found yesterday's snow predictably well-behaved with sustained, steep terrain producing long running surface sluffs. And while I think this is still the avalanche flavor of the day, I always need to remind myself that the Uinta's are big range, with big terrain, and the winds always blow. That said... if you're looking for an avalanche, I bet you can find one. Isolated to steep, leeward terrain in the wind zone, there might be an old wind drift or two that'll react to our additional weight. Not particularly widespread, but remember... if you're tagging steep, technical terrain, be aware that even a small slide could knock you off your feet and boss you around. So, the ticket to riding safely today is simply look for and avoid any fat, rounded piece of snow, especially if it sounds hollow like a drum. In addition, use all the tools available to help you make solid decisions on your terrain choices. Tweak little test slopes and road cuts similar in aspect, elevation, and slope angle to what you wanna ride and see how they're reacting before setting your sights on big terrain.

It feels like several days of intermittent sun, clouds, and wind, combined with slow warming allowed Thursday's storm snow to slowly settle. And while most slopes took on some heat, the snowpack experienced a slow change, and that helped temper wet avalanche activity. I think we're dealing with a similar situation today, as clouds and sun play a game of cat-and-mouse with the surface snow. The good news is... wet avalanche activity is easy to avoid by staying ahead of the curve. If the snow you're riding on gets damp and manky, simply get off of and out from under steep, sun-baked slopes.In addition, think about your exit strategy, especially late in the day. Avoid terrain traps like gullies and road cuts where tree snapping, cement-like debris can stack up very deeply.