In reply to JHOCKENHULL:
The occasional visitor is always going to be at a disadvantage compared to the local when it comes to walking conditions and avalanche dangers, which depend so much on the snowfall, wind direction, humidity and temperature over the preceding days.
If it's been warm and damp and the forecast is for a cold snap I would be packing crampons and axe in anticipation of frozen snow and potentially excellent walking conditions with relatively stable snow as long as fresh dry powdery snow doesn't blow in and dump on old frozen snow.
Post edited at 16:07