Vail & Summit County

You can trigger an avalanche on easterly-facing slopes at all elevations. The most dangerous slopes are on higher, more exposed slopes where strong winds drifted recent snow into a cohesive slab that rests on a weak layer buried about two to four feet deep. Before triggering a large avalanche, you may not see or hear signs of unstable snow like cracking or collapsing. Even a small avalanche in the new snow may create enough mass to trigger a larger avalanche than anticipated. Seek wind-sheltered slopes less than about 30 degrees for safer travel options.