I would likely feel comfortable directing the clients to the lower angled (closer to 30) terrain and avoiding the terrain trap. The additional decision points speaks to islands of safety.
I wouldn space the skiers because the snow is most likely quiet hard and the fall of one skier would have less consequence (pulling mor skiers along)
I would just give instructions to stay away from the unsupported edge. Lets face it low 20 degree terrain in mature timber, how is this really avalanche terrain?
No wind transport and low angle is the key.
it's hard to seperate out the possibility of other avalanche types from the question.
I would ski it with a large group spaced out if 20 degrees or closer to that but would sit at teh other end of the spectrum if closer to 30 degrees
with lower slope angle and slab depth large group would be fine
Condition suggests high failure initiation potential but low propogation potential.
corn snow conditions are very safe to ski steeper slopes, despite the rain assuming that the crust is not softening
spacing out will not be the issue, guidance and group control around unsupported feature will be the issue
woudl not be good skiing
no way - worried about the slab
not steep and solid crust, in the shade, skiing spaced out due to terrain trap
after successful skicut!
Probably high overall hazard.
might be able to ski cut feature with above conditions
after skicutting the slope
So much is dependent on actual snow crystal/layer in question.
May have misjudged this one due to low slope angle however my closest call ever was in a scenario very much like this one. Terrain trap/ consequences is significant!
By all at once, I mean spread out with partners through the forest. I would put multiple skiers on that slope, but not all at once.
Spaced out, not necessarily one at a time
the relevant issues here are terrain - protected from wind effect and small slope size
more spaced out than one at a time
Too big a slope. Ski pen can affect layer of concern.
small release, mature timber, no wind
snowmobiling on 40 degree terrain is hard without obvious instabilities.
Often in situations like this I use ski cutting to remove the snow on a steep small pitch and ski the group down on the bed surface.
Would control slope as a guide
tending toward not feeling comfortable entering the slope, but would depend on micro terrain
I might not enter at all. It depends on the context of the day. It would not be my first run.
i don't believe that a slope of less than 20 degrees could produce a 300 X 300 avalanche. It could get run over or entrain but not trigger.
I would be getting home over terrain like this and avoiding any runouts or steeper terrain
Sliding sounds more like the hazard here than avalanches, so long as the crust remains intact. That is why I would spread the group.
Skiers would have to be very good and capable of handling hard crust conditions.
Regardless of conditions I usually have a large group spaced out in the vertical palne
60 cm HST,rain, warm, 40 degrees. It seems likely an avalanche would be triggered, even if not on the PWL
hard to say one way or other without seeing the terrain, perhaps a small group would be fine, pehaps I wouldn't go at all
With professionals, maybe subject to easy escape at decision points,  but most likely not given load and rising temps
Possibility of skier controlling strom slabs, possibly would go wiht larger groups given priro knowledge of ski controlling under similar circumstances
Could skier control small slabs in trees
Chances are the guide could control this small slope ptior to having other skiers enter it...
I would expect loose dry avalanches and not storm slabs
I would go until the additional decsision point and re-evaluate then,
I would use lots of knowledge, past history and recent events to fine tune my decision about entering this slope. Knowing no more than the info in this scenario, I would likely stay out
Terrain trap at the bottom is a key issue or unfavorable outcome so No I don't want to go there, given rapid rise in temp and a wek snowpack
see the rain comment, maybe I'm conservative?  given signs no thanks
rapid warming steep slope with a terrain trap, sorry no thanks
terrain trap make me feel apprehensive about this,perhaps I could manage it with good control?
because of variable snowpack, would feel pretty good if uniform HS because of bridging and slope angle
it would be fine except that the warming and solar radn will increase consequence despite lack of terrain traps
not today thanks
as per my previous comment depends on if truly sheltered or not
because of deeper problems, for the loose avalanche, I would space skiers out
actually I would space them out so that if one wipes he/she doesn't rip out someone else
because of deeper slab
Due to convexity and size of the slope (steepest probably above 30) no thanks
warm temps Na activity on a 40 degree slope, No thanks despite the small size of the slope
if the Cr is intact, then lets go carving, if Cr is broken down stay away, spacing is for collisions not avalanche safety!
assuming its thawed and running No
because of Na activity and terrain trap
If they are expert skiers!
a larger group if they ski well and are accustomed to skiing out of sluffs
given the terrain trap i'd look somewhere else
if the slope is really capable and has wind slabs no
i'd have to  be there, but maybe
if the sun is out and the sfc has broken down, no thanks
I would probably not enter a slope where the upper 30cm is wet. If it were 10cm, that might be different. Still have a hard time getting a picture of the conditions.
I base this on the fact there is a 15-20 cm layer of solid crust which I would feel is supportive. The fact it is raining would make me want to spread out and manage people one at a time.
given  that it is frozen, but if it is melted I would not feel comfortable
given the terrain trap and the prevous activity, not today
Despite my assessment of this problem avalanches are not that likely on such a low slope angle but I have seen them.. this week
I question the difference between a small group of professionals and a small group of guided skiers. Is it that professionals are expendable or less valuable or bought their ticket so take their chances?
From experience for the majority of groups the risk of skier collisons warrants spacing out even in low avalanche hazard
windslabs or not, large feature 40 degrees and 60 new. no thanks
They would have to do a lot of poling
steep terrain with a slightly refrozen sfc is hazardous terrain for guiding regardless of avalnche hz
these terrain traps are the biggest thing keeping me away with a guided grp
i don't think its steep enough, but still not keen on the terrain trap
in a pinch i'd ski here but i always try to stay away from the terrain traps even when its good
again I don't follow the field obs but sounds like could get a small grp down safely
High consequence, recent activity
Not with the thaw instability
depends on how deep is the layer and how easy to manage the terrain
Again this entirely dependant on the state of the supporting crust
Only due to small size of the slope and low slope angle
agian due to low slope angle and size of slope
again dur=e to low slope angle