Aspen

An Avalanche Watch is in effect for northern portions of the Elk Range and the Sawatch Range including the Hunter-Frying Pan and Holy Cross Wilderness areas. Heavy snowfall and strong winds will create very dangerous avalanche conditions and overload a very weak snowpack starting Saturday night. Avalanches will occur naturally and run long distances. You can easily trigger avalanches large enough to bury you. Traveling in avalanche terrain is not recommended during this time.

For Saturday, dangerous avalanche conditions exist. You can trigger an avalanche on most slopes, but the most dangerous slopes face west through north to southeast, where the new snow creates a cohesive slab on top of a very weak snowpack. You might be able to trigger these avalanches from a distance so be aware of steep slopes overhead. Safer travel options exist on wind-sheltered slopes below treeline where you find less than about a foot of new snow. You can always stick to slopes less than about 30 degrees steep without steep slopes above you to drastically decrease your chances of being caught in an avalanche.