Grand Mesa

You can trigger a dangerous avalanche on wind-loaded slopes as the recently wind-drifted snow gets wet and breaks around a foot or two deep on the old snow surface. Most of these avalanches will be small but on the lee-sides of a ridgeline where additional snow was drifted by strong winds on Friday some of these avalanches could grow large enough to bury you.

You can also trigger a loose avalanche that gouges to the ground taking the entire season's worth of snow down the slope with it, especially on sunny slopes near and below the treeline. The best way to reduce your chances of being caught in an avalanche is to stick to high-elevation, shady slopes with no cornices or previous signs of wind-loading. If the snow surface begins to get wet and sticky and you see rollerballs on the slopes around you stick to slopes less than around 35 degrees steep.