At the higher elevations strong winds have formed dense surface slabs on a variety of old snow surfaces including crusts, wind pack and faceted snow. Heightened avalanches conditions exist in steep avalanche starting zones and terrain traps above an elevation of 8,000 feet. Evaluate conditions carefully and make conservative terrain choices. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations where the recent new snow lies upon mostly bare ground.
At the higher elevations pockets of dense surface slab one to two feet in depth formed by southwest through northwest winds could be human triggered, with potentially severe consequences, in steep terrain.
