Vail & Summit County

You can trigger an avalanche that breaks in the new snow on wind-loaded terrain features or in weak layers in the upper snowpack. Over a foot of dense snow fell over the weekend onto mostly weak snow surfaces. The most dangerous slopes are easterly-facing slopes near and above the treeline where even triggering a small avalanche in wind-drifted snow might step down and trigger a larger and more dangerous avalanche. Stick to south, southwest, and west-facing slopes for safer travel options and give cornices and the slopes below them a wide berth.