Gunnison

You can trigger a dangerous avalanche on wind-loaded slopes throughout the West Elk and Ragged Mountains. You may encounter wind-loaded slopes in unusual locations lower in the terrain than usual due to strong winds the past few days and new snow. You can identify wind-loaded terrain features by their smooth, rounded, often wave-like surface appearance and by the hard, hollow feeling you may experience when traveling across them. Areas sheltered from the wind at lower elevations or wind-scoured slopes on the windward side of a ridge offer safer travel options.