Vail & Summit County

You can trigger an avalanche at upper elevations in fresh snow drifts. Wednesday’s easterly winds drifted snow into unusual places and on some west-facing slopes. Use caution on Thursday as the winds return to a westerly direction creating snow drifts back on easterly-facing slopes. Look for and avoid slopes with smooth lens-shaped pillows of snow directly below ridgelines and on the sides of gullies.

Avalanches in freshly-drifted snow could trigger a deeper avalanche that breaks on a weak layer buried about two to three feet deep. The most dangerous slopes face northerly and easterly. Wind-sheltered terrain offers safer riding options.