Vail & Summit County

Avalanche conditions are dangerous; you can trigger a deadly avalanche on many slopes. Obvious signs of unstable snow like cracking and collapsing are diminishing. Yet observers continue to report large avalanches, many triggered remotely. With less feedback from the snow, it gets easier to talk yourself into steep terrain. Don't let the first warning sign you see be a large slide with you under it. Heavily drifted slopes are the most dangerous and are where you'll trigger the largest avalanches. You can find safer travel on low-angled slopes well away from steep terrain.