Vail & Summit County

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist because of a lack of continuous snow cover, but that is starting to change.

New snow and drifting winds over the weekend built small slabs of drifted snow at the highest elevations on north and northeast-facing slopes. You can trigger a small avalanche where these drifts are resting on old, weak snow on the ground. Even a small avalanche can be dangerous if you are dragged across rocks or off a cliff, so be aware of dangerous terrain beneath you if you encounter firm, drifted snow. Shooting cracks in drifted snow and audible collapses are signs to avoid steep slopes with continuous snow cover.