Vail & Summit County

You can trigger an avalanche on any wind-drifted slope. On north through east aspects, these slabs are thicker and rest on weak snow and crusts, so avalanches will be larger. Winds over the weekend will build thin fresh slabs on southeast and south aspects, which may be poorly bonded to the crusts below. Have caution where you find more than six inches of drifted snow. You can find safer travel on lower elevation slopes that are sheltered from the wind.