Front Range

Upper elevation, northerly and easterly-facing slopes that harbor drifted snow are the most dangerous. Look for and avoid steep slopes with drifted snow below ridgelines, convex rollovers, and cross-loaded gullies. Drifted snow might sound hollow underneath you. You might find drifts farther down the slope than you anticipate. Several tracks could be on a slope, or there could be no signs of unstable snow like cracking or collapsing before triggering an avalanche in a more deeply buried weak layer. Look for safer riding in wind-sheltered slopes or slopes less than 30 degrees.

Warm and sunny weather this weekend will heat the snow on the surface. In the afternoon, you might see wet snow sluff off steep, sunny slopes. Remember, even small slides can knock you over and take you for a ride. Seek shaded, high-elevation slopes to avoid wet snow.