Front Range

You can trigger an avalanche where recent winds have drifted snow over buried weak layers. Drifted snow can be identified by its smooth rounded appearance and found on steep slopes below ridgelines, in gullies, and on steep rollovers. Easterly-facing slopes with rounded pillows of firm snow will be the most hazardous. Although you are most likely to trigger an avalanche in these areas, they may step down to buried weak layers two feet deep. You can trigger an avalanche from below and a distance; multiple people could ride a slope before you trigger an avalanche. You can find safer travel in wind-sheltered terrain with no slab and slopes less than about 30 degrees.