Is $VIX about to break out to 50? (bottom coming?)

After being in a "range" of sorts for the past year or so, is the VIX about to break out to 50 and above?
If this proves to be correct, due to some unforeseen event, then arguably one can say that a bottom is near.
However, if we grind in this range, making lower lows and lower highs, then we can grind down to lower levels for... well, for quite a while, imo.