Front Range

Warm air temperatures and spring sun mean the snow surface will soften quickly. Look for roller balls and point-release avalanches as signs the snow is getting wet. Gully walls and slopes with lots of exposed rock will be the first places to start shedding snow. Even small wet slides are heavy and hard to escape. If the snow is wet and mushy, avoid traveling on steep, sustained slopes or slopes that end in terrain traps like cliffs or creeks. Consider your egress slopes back to the trailhead. The best way to avoid this problem is to start and end your day early.

On high-elevation, northerly-facing slopes you might find some firm, pillow-shaped snow drifts. Avoid them if they are on steep slopes below ridgelines or along gully walls.