Vail & Summit County

Strong winds drifted snow into cohesive slabs near and above treeline in recent days. Continued wind and more snow will raise the danger at upper elevations. The most hazardous slopes face an easterly direction where you find firm wind-drifted snow over weak layers buried one to two feet deep. If you trigger an avalanche at the surface, it can easily step down to a buried weak layer, growing larger and wider. Multiple sets of tracks on a slope do not mean it is safe and you could trigger an avalanche from a distance. You can find safer riding on lower-elevation slopes sheltered from the wind without a slab or on lower-angle slopes.