High winds, lots of new snow, and extreme avalanche danger closed down Alyeska Resort Wednesday.

Avalanche experts say when events like that happen, it is time to take a mental note of how bad the conditions really are.  Some are worried this weekend is looking like a recipe for disaster.

During recent storms, the Turnagain area started experiencing numerous natural avalanches.  While this weekend is looking like it'll shape up to be clear, and beautiful, experts say it's like Mother Nature could be setting up a baited trap.

"It's good conditions for avalanching, bad conditions for backcountry recreation," said Tucker Chenoweth, Executive Director of the Alaska Avalanche School.

According to Thursday's avalanche advisory, the avalanche danger in the Turnagain area is considerable, meaning human-triggered avalanches are likely.

"The red flag clues that we look for are recent snow greater than 12 inches, which we have, greater than 1 inch an hour, which we had, recent wind loading, which is moving snow from one place to another. We had that, and current avalanche is number one, current and recent. We have that," explained Chenoweth.

Avalanche experts say everything is pointing toward, "be really careful."

"This might be a good weekend to tone it down a bit, because we have some bad layers in the snow pack that aren't going away anytime soon. It's just a harsh reality, and they don't care if Saturday's your day off," said Skip Repetto, President of Friends of Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center.

Repetto plans to do some back country skiing in the Turnagain area this weekend, but not before first checking with the avalanche advisory and going from there.

Repetto said, "I'm just going to stay on low angle slopes, you know 25 degree to 30 degree, which are generally safer slopes."

"Right now, the bait is the really nice weekend and the nice weather.  So, I'd say if you're heading down there, realize you're kind of poking a sleeping dragon," said Chenoweth.

At any point, if you step in the wrong spot, you could trigger a slide.

Chenoweth added, "So, it's a weekend of moderation and careful terrain selection. If you're unfamiliar with avalanche conditions or you don't have much training, it's not the weekend to go out and ride in avalanche terrain, which is anything over 30 degrees. So, it really limits. Go somewhere else."

Officials at the Alaska Avalanche School don't advocate that people don't go into the backcountry, but just head for places, that are safer.

"You just got to stay away from terrain that's capable of producing an avalanche, and if you don't know what that is then you don't have the proper tools to even be in the back country," said Chenoweth.

Repetto said, "You've got to bring that gear every time you go out. Your three pieces of gear that everybody should have: the beacon that works with batteries that work, a probe, a shovel. Actually, there are four things, your brain most importantly, because you have to put all those things to work, to survive."