Gunnison

You can easily trigger a large and dangerous avalanche that breaks wider and runs further than you might expect. You can trigger these avalanches from below a slope or from long distances away. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential for safe backcountry travel right now. You may be able to find safer travel options on south and southwest-facing slopes that were bare ground in late November. Avoid traveling directly on or underneath slopes steeper than about 30 degrees that face west to north through southeast to drastically reduce your chances of being caught in an avalanche.