Gunnison

You can trigger a dangerous avalanche on most slopes throughout the West Elk Wilderness. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential for safe backcountry travel. The most dangerous slopes face west to north through southeast. Here, avalanches can break on weak snow buried near the ground. You can trigger these avalanches from a distance and they can wrap across multiple terrain features breaking wider than anticipated. Avoid traveling on or under slopes steeper than around 30 degrees on these aspects of concern.

You might be able to trigger an avalanche that breaks in the new snow. Most of these avalanches may be smaller but they can still grow large enough to bury you. Avoid traveling on slopes steeper than around 35 degrees where you find more than a foot of new snow to reduce your chances of being caught in an avalanche. Safer travel options can be found by avoiding travel on or under steep slopes that face west to north through southeast and by waiting a day or two for the new snow to settle wherever you find more than about a foot of fresh snow.