Vail & Summit County

Strong winds drifted snow into cohesive slabs near and above treeline in recent days. The most hazardous slopes face an easterly direction where you find firm wind-drifted snow over weak layers buried one to two feet deep. If you trigger an avalanche at the surface, it can easily step down to a buried weak layer, growing larger and wider. Multiple sets of tracks on a slope do not mean it is safe and you could trigger an avalanche from a distance. You can find safer riding on lower-elevation slopes sheltered from the wind without a slab or on lower-angle slopes.