Aspen

You can trigger a large slab avalanche on steep, high-elevation slopes or wind-drifted slopes down low. You can easily trigger smaller loose avalanches on very steep, shady slopes. Some loose avalanches might grow large enough to bury you on sustained, steep slopes, generally steeper than about 40 degrees. You can find safer travel options by sticking to slopes less than about 35 degrees steep when traveling on slopes of concern.

If you are venturing into steeper terrain in these areas there are a few things you can do to decrease your chances of being caught in an avalanche:

• Avoid slopes that avalanched earlier this season especially if they show recent signs of wind loading

• Avoid shallow trigger points like rock outcrops or convex rollovers on otherwise smooth, planar slopes

• Manage for loose avalanches that could knock you over and drag you down a slope