Sawatch

You can easily trigger a large and deadly avalanche on wind-loaded terrain features such as the lee-side of a ridgeline, particularly around Monarch Pass, the Frying Pan, and the Holy Cross Wilderness. These dangerous areas received more snow during the last few storms and have thick cohesive slabs of snow on top of weak snow. You can trigger these avalanches from below a slope or from a distance so avoid traveling on or under slopes steeper than about 30 degrees in these areas.

You can still trigger a dangerous avalanche throughout the rest of the Sawatch Range especially near and above the treeline on northerly and easterly-facing slopes where the strong snow over weak snow combination exists. Safer travel options exist by traveling below the treeline on wind-sheltered slopes or avoiding travel on or underneath steep wind-drifted slopes.