Vail & Summit County

On slopes with weak layers buried two to three feet deep, you can trigger a deadly slide. You are unlikely to get any signs of instability, like cracking or collapsing, before you trigger a large avalanche, and multiple people could ride a slope before you trigger an avalanche. On slopes with a buried weak layer, you can find safer travel by sticking to slopes less than about 30 degrees.

Strong easterly winds have drifted snow into unusual places on westerly slopes. Look for and avoid rounded pillows of snow on these steep slopes.