Front Range

Avoid steep slopes that are getting a lot of sun and warming. It may only take a short period of intense sun for slopes with lots of cold snow to start shedding. Roller balls from cliffs are a precursor to large avalanches. These avalanches may peel off in layers down to crusts a foot or more below the surface, producing sizeable avalanches that will be hard to escape.

On higher elevation slopes that are not getting warmed, have extra caution when you find eight or more inches of new or wind-drifted snow. Look for and avoid smooth, rounded pillows of new snow. These may crack as you weight them and avalanches could break well above you.