Steamboat & Flat Tops

You can trigger an avalanche if you find the wrong spot on a slope. There are suspect slopes on most aspects, but northwest through east to southeast slopes at upper elevations are the most dangerous. With a recently built slab 2 to 3 feet thick, it can be hard to find a trigger point, but if you do, the avalanche could be deadly.

Multiple people can ride a slope before it slides. You're unlikely to see any warning signs like cracking or collapsing before you trigger an avalanche. The best way to manage this hazard is to avoid slopes steeper than about 30 degrees.

Above-freezing temperatures, sunny skies, and light winds mean the snow surface could become wet on sunny slopes. You can trigger a slide where you find wet, cohesionless snow on steep slopes. Avoid steep slopes if you're sinking up to your ankles in wet snow. Rollerballs and point-releases are indications the surface is becoming wet.