Front Range

A recent winter storm brought light snow and strong northerly wind to the area. Though this helps give the mountains a chic winterlike appearance, most slopes are still free from avalanche hazards. Winds are strong enough to move the new snow but drift it onto bare slopes.

If you were to trigger a small avalanche, it would be on a drifted slope where a hard layer of snow sits over softer old snow below. You will likely encounter this slab over a weak snow combination above treeline on northerly or east-facing slopes in gullies or directly below ridgetops that have been holding snow for some time. Avoid stiff, hollow surfaces, especially on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.