Steamboat & Flat Tops

The most dangerous slopes are where the snow is deepest, and slabs are the thickest. These deeper places are around Buffalo Pass and north through the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. A weak layer of surface hoar is buried 1 to 2 feet deep. More snow Thursday into Friday will further stress this weak layer. You can trigger these layers on steep northwest through northeast-facing slopes, especially steep open meadows and slopes directly below ridgetop.

You might trigger small slides in the newly drifted snow. Any avalanche has the potential to gouge down to deeper layers and grow larger. Take care where you find more than about 6 inches of new snow on north through east to south-facing slopes. Cracking in the new snow is a sign to avoid similar steep slopes.