Steamboat & Flat Tops

You can trigger an avalanche where recently drifted snow forms a cohesive slab on top of a weak layer 1 to 2 feet below the surface. Cracking in the surface snow is an indication you found a slab. Avoid steep slopes where you see this sign. These slides can break around terrain features and be triggered from a short distance. You can find safer travel on slopes less than about 30 degrees or sheltered slopes with no slab on the surface.

Although unlikely, you might trigger a slide that breaks on weak snow near the ground. You're most likely to trigger one of these slides from a shallow area of a slope or on a slope that slid earlier in the winter. Reduce the chance of triggering a deeper slide by traveling on slopes with a consistently deep snowpack without trigger points like exposed rocks or bushes.