This entire post is basically a ploy to get Colorado backcountry skiers and snowboarders to reference The Colorado Avalanche Information Center before they head into the mountains.
CAIC works hard all winter to keep backcountry travelers safe with the best possible information and if you don’t you reference it you are willfully uninformed and that’s not cool.
Not saying that on site measurements and assessments aren’t invaluable but using every resource possible is only way to go. Please bookmark and the CAIC on your browser and make it an icon on your smartphone. Be safe, be careful, know before you go.