Vail & Summit County

You can easily trigger small avalanches in the storm snow, but a bigger concern is if these avalanches step down to weaker layers buried one to two feet deep. You could trigger an avalanche from a distance and below. Do not assume tracks on a steep slope mean it is safe; just that previous riders did not find a weak spot. In areas where the wind has drifted snow, there is a higher likelihood that you can trigger an avalanche, so avoid rounded pillows of snow. You can find safer riding on slopes sheltered from the wind without a slab over the weak layer and on slopes less than about 30 degrees.