Grand Mesa

You can trigger an avalanche on most steep slopes that got more than a foot of snow last weekend. The new snow settled into a cohesive slab that rests on top of very weak snow. Most of these avalanches will be small but on sustained, steep slopes or slopes with terrain traps such as a creek or cliff below you they can be very dangerous. Watch for shooting cracks and collapsing in the snow as you travel through the backcountry. These are signs that the snowpack is unstable on that slope and you should consider moving to a different area or staying on slopes less than about 30 degrees without similarly steep slopes above you.