The alpine is somewhat good if you know the line you want, but low down you may just have to hike through some of the brush. As far as Avy conditions check the website, but really there's no decent localized beta, so you gotta dig a pit.
I found it was easier to hike than ski/skin through the dense shit back in February. I don't think they've received all that much snow to make it any easier at the low elevations since my visit.