Steamboat & Flat Tops

Avalanches breaking down to a buried layer of soft, weak snow about 1 to 2 feet deep are the main concern. Steer around places where the wind drifted snow onto steep, leeward slopes that face northwest through northeast to southeast.

Slides in the most recent snow can easily step down to these deeper weak layers. You should look for and avoid new wind-drifts on south-facing slopes, too. Cracking in the surface snow and audible collapses are signs of unstable snow.

You can find safer travel on lower-elevation slopes, sheltered from the wind.