Grand Mesa

You can trigger a small avalanche in the storm snow on most slopes on Sunday. However, the more dangerous problem is triggering a large avalanche that breaks on weak snow near the ground. You can trigger larger avalanches on slopes that face northwest to north through southeast at upper elevations. Don’t forget that small avalanches in the storm snow can easily become the trigger for a larger avalanche. Cracking within the new snow is a sign that it is unstable, but you might not see such an obvious clue before you trigger a larger slide. You might be the 10th or 20th person to ride a slope before you trigger a larger avalanche, so keep in mind that tracks on a slope do not mean it is safe. You can reduce your chances of triggering an avalanche by traveling below the treeline on southerly-facing slopes. If you plan to travel on upper elevation slopes, stick to terrain less than about 30 degrees without steep slopes above as a safer travel option.