Aspen

You might be able to trigger a large and dangerous avalanche on most steep slopes throughout the mountains. The most dangerous areas, where it is easier to trigger an avalanche, are where the snowpack is generally less than about 3 feet deep on many slopes below treeline, on the windward sides of a mountain, or in wind-sheltered terrain mostly facing southerly and westerly directions. You can reduce your chances of triggering an avalanche by sticking to smooth, planar slopes where the snow is generally deeper than about 5 feet. Safer travel options exist by sticking to sunny slopes with a hard crust that is supportable to your feet, skis, or machine or by simply avoiding travel on or directly under slopes steeper than 30 degrees if you aren't familiar with the snowpack or the area.