Grand Mesa

You can easily trigger dangerous avalanches where the freshly-fallen storm snow rests on weak older snow surfaces. The most dangerous slopes are wind loaded and face northwest through north to east.

Easterly winds drifted snow into unusual places so look for and avoid rounded pillows of smooth snow below ridgelines, cornices and along gully walls. If you experience cracking or collapsing in the new snow consider heading to slopes less than about 35 degrees or those sheltered from the wind.