Front Range

Steep slopes with newly drifted snow are the most dangerous. Be careful on any steep slope where you find more than about 8 inches of new or drifted snow. The new snow falls on various surfaces, affecting how reactive the new snow is and hiding wind slabs created over the last couple of days. Light winds mean slabs may remain soft, but even soft slabs can avalanche. Cracking in the snow is a warning sign you found a slab. You can reduce the chance of triggering a deeper slide on buried weak layers by traveling on slopes with a consistently deep snowpack without trigger points. You can find safer travel on slopes sheltered from the wind.