Gunnison

You can trigger a large and dangerous avalanche on on northerly and easterly-facing slopes near and above treeline. There is a layer of weak snow buried two to three feet below the snow surface. You might be able to travel on a slope several times before you trigger a slide. You might not see obvious signs of instability like shooting cracks or collapses before you trigger a slide.

You can trigger wet avalanches on sunny slopes once the sun heats up the snow surface. Warm air temperatures and spring sun mean the surface will soften quickly. Move off steep slopes before the snow surface gets wet and slushly. Once the snow has turned to mush, avoid traveling on steep, sustained slopes or slopes that end in terrain traps like cliffs or creeks. Slides can start as point releases and then sheet off crusts to become wider avalanches.