Steamboat & Flat Tops

You might trigger an avalanche that breaks two to four feet deep on layers of weak snow that lurk in the upper snowpack. You may not see obvious signs of instability like shooting cracks and audible collapses before you trigger an avalanche. Multiple people can ride a slope before someone triggers a slide. Consider your terrain choices carefully; if you trigger a slide on a larger slope it could break widely and deeply and become nearly impossible to escape. Slopes less than about 30 degrees without steep slopes above are a safer option.