Front Range

You are unlikely to see any signs of instability like cracking or collapsing before you are committed to a slope and trigger a large avalanche. Northerly and easterly slopes, where you find dense wind-drifted snow over weak layers at the ground, will be the most dangerous. On slopes with a known weak layer, stick to terrain less than 30 degrees not connected to steeper slopes. You can find safer riding on slopes sheltered from the wind and south-facing slopes.  

On Tuesday, a skier was caught, partially buried, and injured in an avalanche on a north-facing slope near Berthoud Pass. The northerly-facing slope was recently wind-loaded. The avalanche broke on weak snow near the ground.