Front Range

You can trigger an avalanche in freshly-drifted snow at upper elevations. Look for and avoid smooth lens-shaped pillows of snow directly below ridgelines, on the sides of gullies, or around terrain and vegetation breaks. Strong winds may have drifted snow lower down on a slope than expected. A small avalanche in the new snow may step down into a buried weak layer, creating a much larger avalanche. Shooting cracks within the new snow are signs of instabilities and signs you should seek wind-sheltered slopes for safer travel options.