Vail & Summit County

You can trigger a dangerous avalanche where the wind is drifting snow into thick slabs on north through east to south-facing slopes at upper elevations. Look for and avoid areas below ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies where you see smooth lens-shaped pillows of snow. You might see signs of instabilities like cracking or collapsing only within the new snow. While you may only be able to trigger an avalanche in the recently drifted snow, the odds are even a small avalanche can step down into a deeply buried weak layer creating a deadly avalanche. Below treeline, be cautious where you find more than eight inches of fresh snow, as an avalanche might become large enough to knock you off your feet, taking you for a deadly ride. Give yourself plenty of space around any slope greater than 30 degrees.