Vail & Summit County

Over the last few days, multiple large Wet Slab avalanches have been reported. These all occurred on steep slopes with shallow snow and large rocky bodies. Overnight freezes continue to be superficial. Be cautious of a crust at the surface that can tempt you into steep terrain when, in fact, heavy, wet snow lies just beneath. Be sure to step out of your flotation devices to see how strong the crust is and how much wet snow is beneath. Start early and end your day before you sink past your ankles into wet snow.

If you are heading to the shady north and northeast slopes, you could trigger an avalanche on buried weak layers. Rocky steep slopes will be the most dangerous, and there could be multiple sets of tracks before you trigger an avalanche. Slopes less than 35 degrees are safer.