Vail & Summit County

The most dangerous slopes are where recent winds drifted new snow onto leeward slopes at upper elevations on north and easterly-facing terrain. Look for and avoid rounded surfaces that look textured below ridgelines, cornices, or convex rollovers. While unlikely, a smaller avalanche might create enough mass to impact a weak layer buried about two to three feet down, creating a destructive avalanche. Seek wind-sheltered slopes at lower elevations if you see signs of recent avalanches or cracking within in the new snow.