Grand Mesa

You can trigger an avalanche in freshly drifted snow above treeline. The most dangerous slopes face northeast to east through southwest. You can identify drifted terrain features by their smooth, rounded appearance. Shooting cracks in freshly drifted snow are a sign you should move to wind-sheltered slopes or terrain less than about 30 degrees.

You might also trigger an avalanche in weak, cohesionless snow on slopes steeper than 35 degrees at lower elevations. These slides have been small, but combined with the fresh snowfall, they could grow in size quickly and could carry you into terrain traps such as dense timber and gullies. If the snowpack is unsupportive and you sink to the ground with skis or a board on, you should avoid slopes over 35 degrees.