Gunnison

A shift in the direction of the wind will blow snow onto weak slopes facing north through east at higher elevations, creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Even a small avalanche in recently wind-drifted snow could step down to deeper weak layers several feet beneath the snow surface and grow into a large and deadly avalanche. Identify and avoid wind-drifted slopes at higher elevation along ridgelines. Don't expect to see any signs of instability before you trigger a potentially deadly avalanche, and you can trigger them from a distance, so be aware of steep slopes above you. Safer travel options exist on slopes facing southeast, south, or southwest or low-angle terrain if you are traveling on slopes facing northwest through north to east.