Aspen

You can trigger a large and dangerous avalanche on most steep slopes. The most dangerous areas, where it is easier to trigger an avalanche, are where the snowpack is generally less than about 3 feet deep. You are more likely to encounter these shallow slopes below treeline, on the windward sides of a mountain, or in wind-sheltered terrain mostly facing southerly and westerly directions. You can reduce your chances of triggering an avalanche by sticking to smooth, planar slopes where the snow is generally deeper than about 5 feet.

You can also trigger a small but still dangerous avalanche on recently wind-drifted slopes primarily on southerly and westerly-facing slopes above treeline. Safer travel options exist by sticking to sunny slopes at lower elevations where you encounter a hard crust that is supportable to your feet, skis, or machine or by simply avoiding travel on or directly under slopes steeper than 30 degrees if you aren't familiar with the snowpack or the area.