Steamboat & Flat Tops

You can trigger large and dangerous avalanches that can bury and kill you where you find freshly drifted snow. Even a small avalanche can step down and gouge older, weaker snow near the ground causing a larger avalanche. You may trigger one of these avalanches from a distance or below, so give yourself a wide berth around any suspect slope. Watch for signs of drifting, like smooth, fat-looking pillows and building cornices. Seek wind-sheltered slopes less than about 30 degrees if you see any signs of unstable snow, like shooting cracks, or hear an audible collapse.