Front Range

The most dangerous slopes face an easterly direction where strong winds are drifting stiff slabs of snow. Avoid slopes with rounded, firm pillows of snow. The avalanche you trigger at the surface could penetrate weak layers deeper in the snowpack, possibly even to the ground in shallow areas. Multiple people could ride a slope before you find a weak area and trigger a large avalanche. Rocky slopes with shallow variable coverage will be more dangerous. Seek areas sheltered from the wind without a slab or lower-angled slopes for safer travel.