Front Range

On slopes with a bad recipe of stiff snow resting on weak snow near the ground, you can trigger a slab avalanche. Northerly and easterly-facing slopes generally hold the weak layer, so steer clear of any steep slopes where you find stiffer, wind-drifted snow surfaces. These stiffer slabs may temporarily support your weight before breaking into a wide avalanche. Upper-elevation slopes that face south and west, and most slopes below treeline have too little snow cover to produce a dangerous avalanche.