Gunnison

You can trigger an avalanche on a layer of weak snow around two to three feet below the snow surface on northerly and easterly slopes near and above treeline. You might be able to travel on a slope several times before you trigger a large avalanche on this layer. Don't expect to see obvious signs of instability such as shooting cracks or collapsing to warn you of the dangerous conditions.

You can also trigger a small wet avalanche on sunny slopes in the late morning and afternoon. Watch for rollerballs and a wet snow surface to warn you of wet avalanche issues. You can reduce your chances of being caught by sticking to sunny slopes early in the morning before the snow gets wet or by sticking to shady slopes below treeline. If you choose to travel on northerly and easterly slopes near and above the treeline choose smooth, planar slopes with no terrain traps such as a cliff or gully beneath you.