Steamboat & Flat Tops

Recently reported avalanches are breaking on buried crusts 2 to 3 feet deep. This issue won't go away soon. You may not see or hear obvious signs of unstable snow before you trigger an avalanche. The only way to reduce your risk of avalanches breaking on this weak, collapsible layer of snow over crusts is to avoid steep slopes where the problem exists. The most dangerous slopes are where winds are drifting snow on top of this problematic structure. This makes east through south-facing slopes the bullseye; where wind-drifted snow and buried crusts intersect.