Grand Mesa

You can trigger an avalanche that breaks up to four feet deep on slopes where you find recently drifted snow resting on old weak snow. The most dangerous areas are steep convex slopes and filled-in gullies. Small avalanches can have dire consequences if you get carried into a terrain trap like a gulley, trees, or onto an abrupt road bank transition. Cracking and collapsing are signs you should move to sheltered terrain or lower-angle slopes. You can stay safer by sticking to slopes less than about 30 degrees.