Front Range

You can trigger an avalanche where recent snow drifted into slabs over buried weak layers. The recent snow fell on a variety of weak surfaces such as near-surface facets, surface hoar, and facet/crust combinations. The most dangerous slopes are easterly facing where you find stiff, drifted snow resting on these weak layers below ridgelines, steep rollovers, and in gullies. Multiple people can ride a slope before someone triggers an avalanche and you may not observe any cracking or collapsing before you do. Smaller avalanches can step down into more deeply buried weak layers; growing larger and creating a more dangerous slide. You can trigger an avalanche from below or a distance and slabs over weak layers like surface hoar can break further back than you expect. Consider all of these factors while choosing safe zones. You can find safer travel in wind-sheltered terrain and on slopes less than about 30 degrees.