Steamboat & Flat Tops

You might trigger an avalanche at upper elevations where a cohesive slab of snow rests on weak layers and crusts buried one to three feet deep. Watch out for slopes guarded by large cornices. If these large triggers fall onto a suspect slope, they can easily cause a deep and destructive avalanche. You are most likely to find problematic layers in the upper snowpack on easterly-facing slopes. Obvious signs of instability, like cracking and collapsing, may not be present before you trigger a slide. Look for and avoid slopes with weak layers in the upper snowpack, or that are guarded by large cornice features.

Watch out for snow shedding off steep, sunny slopes in the afternoon. If you notice rollerballs or pinwheels in the surface snow, it’s time to seek colder slopes or simply call it a day.

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