Vail & Summit County

A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect for areas around the Gore Range. Though slowly decreasing, the avalanche danger remains elevated after a potent storm created very dangerous avalanche conditions. You can easily trigger avalanches large enough to bury you and some may grow very large in size.

You can trigger an avalanche on northeast through east to southeast facing slopes at all elevations The most dangerous slopes are above and near treeline. Strong winds are drifting recent snow into cohesive slabs that rest on weak layers buried two to four feet deep. Avalanches within the new snow and cornice failures could create enough mass to step down into the buried weak layers, creating a much larger and more destructive avalanche. Signs of instability such as cracking and collapsing may not be present before a deeper avalanche breaks around you. Stick to slopes less than about 30 degrees at lower elevations for safer travel options.