Sawatch

A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect from  4:30 PM Wednesday until 4:30 PM Sunday. Avalanche conditions are more dangerous than we’ve experienced. You can easily trigger dangerous avalanches large enough to injure or kill you. Avoid traveling on and under slopes with a slope angle steeper than about 30 degrees. You can trigger avalanches from a distance or from below. Check the forecast each afternoon for the most up-to-date information.

Natural avalanche activity is tapering off, but the backcountry conditions are still very dangerous. Avalanches will be easy to trigger, especially on northerly-facing slopes where weak layers are most pronounced. Be extra cautious when moving through terrain, as you can trigger a slide from a distance away or the bottom of the slope. These hazards are difficult to manage and require conservative decisions and wide safety margins.

Lower-angle southerly-facing slopes are the best options to help avoid being caught in an avalanche.