Early season stability assessment

I was just curious about evaluating stability etc. during early season snow. Of course, I am asking because am thinking of doing a solo ski tomorrow; something I have never done in the past (have always been with buddies).

I guess I am not sure how I should mentally approach it. I can't imagine a pit will tell me anything accept the color of the dirt under the snow.

Any tips suggestions warnings encouragements would be much appreciated!

Got to love the pre-thanksgiving snow!!!

thanks in advance

New forecasts are out (Thanks NWAC!):
www.nwac.us/forecast/avalanche_washington/current/

Avalanches happen year-round. Barely buried trees and rocks are grabby.

A pit will still give you info about how reactive the snow is within the pack, even if it's not consolidated.  It's particularly important to have an idea of what the ground surface is like.  Smooth polished rock vs. heather or short shrubs, etc...

Approach it with extra caution, especially since you're unsure how to eval the early season pack.  Bonus points for digging to ground

Sometimes in early season, underlying vegetation is not fully compacted and the weight of a person can cause that settlement, producing a release. Unrelated in terms of propagation, I have pulled an unfortunate person out of an early season slide in Table Mtn's Blueberry Chutes (the ones that reportedly slid this weekend). He slid a few hundred feet and shattered his patella on a rock. Treat early season like mid season. Pick safe ups and conservative downs when you are alone.

thanks for the quick and helpful replies!

It all makes sense and I will keep my awareness level high tomorrow...most likely heading up to stevens early AM. Can't wait!

Terrain selection, terrain selection terrain selection. Always number one consideration.

Consequences, consequneces, consequencess. second. Adjusted accordingly for solo travel.

Both those are completetly under your control.

Everything else you're making a hopefully somewhat educated guess at.

Befiore you even bother digging a pit exactly what are you looking to do with the answer that it might, or might not give you? Is it making it o.k. to go or do you turn around and tip toe out. Why are you diggin a pit anyway given points one and two.

Why are you going on your own? Cause you have to? That's the day you can? Or you just want to? Do you want to go too much to make a smart decsion?

What you're doing and why is where you should look first?

Ain't ever easy. At least not for me.