Gunnison

A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect for the West Elk Mountainsthrough Monday evening. New snow and strong winds built cohesive slabs over a recently buried weak layer creating unusual avalanche conditions for this time of year. Although it's April, a winter-like weak layer lurks a couple feet deep in the upper snowpack on west, north, and east-facing terrain at upper elevations. Steep slopes remain dangerous, and you can expect avalanches to break several feet thick on wind-drifted features.

Look for safer options in wind-scoured or wind-sheltered terrain below treeline where you find moist or crusty layers underneath the recent storm snow.