Gunnison

Two to three feet of recently fallen snow rest on a buried layer of weak snow. The most likely place to trigger a dangerous avalanche is on northerly slopes at the mid-elevations.

You can trigger the largest, most destructive avalanches where the overlying snow is stiffened by the wind at upper elevations.

On Sunday, February 11, a backcountry skier was caught and killed in an avalanche in the Anthracite Range, near the town of Crested Butte. The avalanche was triggered on a very steep north-facing slope at 11,200 feet. Our deepest condolences to the deceased skier's family, friends, and community. You can read the preliminary accident report here: https://ow.ly/ahyn50QA32J