Front Range

You can trigger an avalanche where strong winds drift recently fallen snow into slabs at upper elevations. The most dangerous slopes are northerly and easterly facing below ridgelines, steep rollovers, and in gully features. Large cornices at ridgetop or a wave-like appearance on the snow surface are signs that a slope holds drifted snow. Look for and avoid bulbous pillows of snow and surface snow with a hollow feel. You can trigger an avalanche that breaks near the surface or in the upper snowpack and some avalanches might break near the ground. Cracking within drifted snow is a sign to seek out areas sheltered from the wind, slopes less than about 30 degrees, and lower elevation slopes.