Pappy on the ava thing Bob Rockwell some years ago posted his thoughts on the most common areas that slide , I would add a few lower down and on the road just above the first switchback , also the NRT trail as it comes into the canyon and all the way to the Portal , Always the question is it rock fall or avalanche ? Spring conditions we have rockfall that starts small slides . Correct on loading/drifting the backside can be dry as all the snow has blown down and drifts in the lower canyons . I recall one trip up the mountaineers route I had very little snow and wasn't a big event a group from China Lake SAR was in waist deep snow at trailcrest!