Steamboat & Flat Tops

You can trigger an avalanche large enough to bury you. On north to northeast through east-facing slopes above and near treeline, these slabs may trigger a larger avalanche that breaks near or close to the ground. Spotting these dangerous slopes can be easy; look for cornices along ridgelines, cross-loaded gullies or couloirs, or concave slopes that catch and hold continuous snow. Pay attention to areas where you find hollow-sounding snow, smooth lens-shaped pillows of snow that may support your weight. Cracking and an audible collapsing are signs of unstable snow and signs that you should move to terrain less than about 30 degrees.