Logan

New snow and drifting from sustained west winds have created heightened avalanche conditions on some upper elevation slopes, and you could trigger small avalanches of wind drifted snow.

As snow starts to accumulate in the backcountry, it’s a good idea to tone it down because it’s pretty easy to get hurt in the early season. Do not be overcome by powder fever. I know, it's been a long time and you’re chomping at the bit, but it’s absolutely the worst time to ruin your whole season.

• Avoid going too fast, maintain control, and be conservative.

• Stick to smooth, grassy, low-angled slopes.

• Stay off steep slopes. Even a very small, early season avalanche can be very dangerous if you are caught carried over rocks or raked through bushes and stumps.

Please report what you are seeing out there, especially any new avalanche activity.

Looks like about a foot of light new snow fell in the last 24 hours at upper elevations near the state line in the Central Bear River Range. Sustained westerly winds drifted the new snow at upper elevations, creating potential for small human triggered avalanches of fresh, wind drifted snow.

Sunday, we found a bit less than a foot of new snow covering up the rocks, with no old snow at all. The forecast calls for a "a train of storm systems" to continue next week or so, and we expect more snow to accumulate on upper elevation slopes.

This week's snow is accumulating on bare ground after a warm and dry October. There is no base, and the biggest risk for early backcountry travelers will be hitting rocks and other shallowly buried obstacles.

There is not yet enough snow to cause much risk of avalanches on most slopes now, but shallow, early season snow conditions can still be quite dangerous. Just in the past week, shallowly buried rocks are to blame for the tragic death of a Bozman woman who died while skiing a steep chute in the Montana backcountry (info here). Also, for that of a British Columbia snowboarder who was killed by head trauma in a “freak backcountry accident” while skiing on his splitboard in relatively flat, rolling terrain. He was found with his helmet off his head and on his backpack (info here).