Sawatch

The most dangerous areas are steep, wind-drifted slopes at upper elevations most likely just below ridgeline or on the edges of a gully. Here, you can trigger an avalanche large enough to bury you on several different weak layers lower down in the snowpack. Any avalanche you trigger on a wind drift can gouge into weaker snow lower down on the slope and may grow bigger and run farther than you expect. You can reduce your chances of triggering an avalanche by moving to wind-sheltered slopes below treeline where you find soft, cohesionless snow.