Grand Mesa

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist. The few areas where you may be able to trigger an avalanche are where about one to three inches of new snow from Thursday, accompanied by strong westerly winds, created thin, cohesive slabs of snow on top of weak October snow. Identify and avoid wind-loaded slopes to reduce your chances of triggering a small but potentially dangerous avalanche. You are most likely to encounter these wind-loaded slopes on the lee sides of a ridgeline or in a northerly or easterly-facing gully or couloir where the snow has a hard, hollow feel to it.