Steamboat & Flat Tops

You can trigger an avalanche in recent storm snow that breaks one or two feet deep. Look for avoid drifted pillows of recent snow directly below steep ridgelines and convex rollovers. Cracking in the new snow is a sign it is unstable and a signal to avoid steep slopes. You might also trigger a slide that breaks deeply in weak snow near the ground. The most likely place to trigger a deeper and more deadly avalanche is in shallower areas, like from the edges of a slope and close to trees or rocks. Recent storm snow makes these areas harder to recognize. Remember, small slides close to the surface can trigger larger, deeper avalanches. Look for safer riding on lower-angle and wind-sheltered slopes.