Steamboat & Flat Tops

You might trigger a dangerous avalanche in elevated terrain that faces north through northeast to east. To identify these slopes, look for cornices along ridgelines, cross-loaded gullies or couloirs, or concave slopes that catch and hold continuous snow cover. Pay attention to areas where you find hollow-sounding snow or smooth lens-shaped pillows of snow that may support your weight. Here, cracking and an audible collapsing are signs of unstable snow. To stay safer, avoid these slopes and move to terrain less than about 35 degrees.