Vail & Summit County

Avoid steep recently wind-loaded slopes directly below ridgetop, and you can avoid most avalanches. Most recent slides were on east, southeast, or south-facing slopes, but a recent close call on a northeast-facing slope shows you can find problematic drifts there, too.

Look for and avoid hard drifts of snow where your skis, board, or sled don't sink more than a few inches into the snow. Supportable snow on steep slopes means you found a slab, and if you're on one of the aspects mentioned above, there are likely weak, collapsible layers below this slab.