Vail & Summit County

You can trigger a dangerous avalanche on northeast through east to southeast-facing slopes where you find recently drifted snow at all elevations. Winds drifted snow in a dense, cohesive slab resting on a buried weak layer two to four feet below the surface. Look for and avoid slopes that look textured, feel hollow, or have a lens-shaped pillow of snow on them. You may not see any unstable snow before triggering one of these large and dangerous avalanches. Wind-sheltered slopes at lower elevations offer safer travel options.

A pair of recent accidents highlight the consequence of triggering a deep avalanche. On Friday, three backcountry skiers triggered and were caught in a large avalanche near Marble on an easterly-facing slope. Sadly one died. You can read the preliminary report here. Sunday afternoon, another skier died in an accident in Maroon Bowl, on a northerly-facing slope near Aspen Highlands. You can read this preliminary report here.