Front Range

You can trigger an avalanche on slopes with drifted snow that face north to east through south at upper elevations. If you notice shooting cracks within the recently drifted snow or if the surface snow is dense and hollow-sounding, you should move wind-sheltered or low-angle slopes. Bulbous pillows of fresh snow or a textured snow surface are signs of drifted snow. Although it is unlikely, you could trigger an avalanche that breaks on weak snow near the ground. Look out for these slides on steep terrain features on north, northeast, and east-facing slopes. You can find safer travel on slopes less than about 30 degrees that are not connected to steeper slopes above.