Steamboat & Flat Tops

You can trigger a slide that breaks in recently drifted snow, but the bigger hazard is triggering an avalanche that breaks near the ground. Northerly and east-facing slopes are the most likely places to trigger a deeply breaking avalanche, but you should take care anywhere you find a dense, cohesive slab resting on weak snow near the ground. Stick to low-angle terrain where you do. You are unlikely to get any obvious signs of instability before you trigger one of these slides.

Cracking in the new snow is a sign to avoid steep slopes. Slopes sheltered from the wind offer safer travel.

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