Gunnison

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist throughout the Elk and West Elk Mountains. You can easily trigger a large and deadly avalanche, you can trigger them from a distance, and they will likely break wider and run farther than you expect. The most dangerous slopes face west through north to southeast where an unusually weak layer of snow was buried by one to two feet of snow during the last storm. Additional snowfall Tuesday night throughout the day Wednesday will increase the danger. You can find safer travel options on slopes that got less than about a foot of snow during the last storm or by simply avoiding travel on or underneath steep slopes on aspects of concern.