Steamboat & Flat Tops

Avalanches may break on a layer of weak snow buried one to two feet deep. Shooting cracks or audible collapses are clear signs of this weak layer and suggest avoiding steep slopes. Steer around areas of wind-drifted snow. Shallow slides in the drifted snow can step down into these deeper weak layers and grow much larger.

Loose avalanches will be growing larger this week. These could be dangerous on steep slopes above terrain traps like a creek or a cliff. There, even a small avalanche can take you for a dangerous ride.