Terrain as a first filter
Seed. Terrain choice does more risk reduction than snowpack assessment, because it is the variable you actually control.
Seed, to be filled in from the avalanche literature rather than from memory.
The argument in one line: snowpack assessment is an estimate with wide error bars, while terrain is a measurement. Choosing less consequential terrain is therefore the higher-leverage move, and it is available before you leave the car.
To do: find the actual decision-framework papers and cite them properly instead of paraphrasing a vibe. Related: Loss landscapes and terrain.