Steamboat & Flat Tops

The most recent storm is over, but you can still trigger an avalanche in drifted snow. Drifted upper elevation slopes lee to westerly winds are the most dangerous, but you might trigger an avalanche wherever you find a recently deposited, cohesive slab on a steep slope. Cracking in the snow and audible collapses are signs of instability and indications to avoid steep slopes. Go around rounded pillows of drifted snow where you find them below ridges, in gullies, and behind convex rollovers. Avoiding these pillows and seeking out sheltered or lower-angled slopes are ways to reduce your hazard.