Grand Mesa

You can trigger an avalanche in drifted snow near ridgetop. Look for and avoid lens-shaped pillows of snow on steep slopes. Some drifts might be soft and smooth, but with intense westerly winds in the forecast, drifted snow could be dense and supportable. Cracking in the new snow is a sign of instability and an indication you should stick to lower-angle or wind-sheltered slopes, but you might not see any before you trigger an avalanche.

Though clouds look to move in during the afternoon, the intense April sun will warm the recent snow causing a rapid change. You might experience small wet slides on slopes steeper than about 40 degrees. Once the new snow becomes gloppy you should move to slopes with colder snow.