Total snowfall from this approaching system will dictate how widespread and reactive new storm instabilities will become.  Pay attention to the duration and intensity of snowfall throughout the next few days, and look for signs of significant wind transportation at higher elevations. 

Recent observations have noted a fairly uniform snowpack with no obvious weak layers on south and west aspects. On northwest to northeast aspects at upper elevations, our snowpack consist of a relatively homogenous slab sitting on top of a basal crust/ facet combo leftover from mid-October storms. Slab depths up to 70 cm are primarily isolated to shady, higher elevation terrain that benefited from prior northeasterly winds. On some slopes, we have found unconsolidated facets lurking below the crust.  Although our stability tests haven't been producing propagating results at this slab/ crust interface, the potentially larger consequences of a surprise from this basal layer are worth assessing with continued loading. On Friday, observers noted a large avalanche that had stepped down to the ground on a rock slab, which may have been related to this worrisome structure (see photo). We still have limited field data on the distribution and reactivity of these underlying facet/crusts right now. Place your shovel into the snow to determine if the crust/facet layers exist and the depth of the overlying slab, and default to sunnier aspects, lower elevations, or lower angled terrain if in doubt.  Even on the low angle slopes, it is far from green-light riding conditions with our very thin snowpack and countless buried obstacles. Tread lightly if you are headed out for turns and be prepared for the worst, including shovel, probe, beacon, first aid kit, and plenty of warm layers.