Avalanche forecast

New snow and strong winds are forming wind slabs at upper elevations. Favored areas near Guanella Pass and Webster Pass could see a foot of snow by the end of Sunday. Areas with higher snow accumulation will be more dangerous and avalanche size will be larger.

You can trigger an avalanche where you find more than about eight inches of drifted snow that is resting on old snow. Wind-drifted areas will be found on steep slopes below ridge top, in steep gullies, and on convex rollovers. You can identify drifted areas by their smooth rounded appearance. Shooting cracks and collapsing are signs you should move to lower-angle terrain or wind-sheltered slopes. Even small avalanches can be big problems if you get swept through rocks and other terrain hazards.