Grand Mesa

You could trigger an avalanche in loose surface snow on northerly-facing slopes. The majority of loose snow slides will remain small, but some could grow big enough to knock you off your feet and push you somewhere you don’t want to go. Consider a different aspect or lower-angled terrain if you find more than about 10 inches of weak, cohesionless surface snow. Recent north winds stiffened the snow surface on many alpine slopes, and you may encounter thin drifts above softer snow that could collapse or produce shooting cracks. Steer around areas that look smooth and pillow-like or feel hard underfoot to help reduce your avalanche risk.