Vail & Summit County

Westerly winds continue to drift snow into slabs on easterly-facing slopes. You can trigger an avalanche in this drifted snow. Steep wind-loaded east-facing slopes that sit directly below ridgetop are the most likely places to trigger an avalanche. Avalanches in drifted snow can grow large as they step down to more deeply buried weak layers. You are unlikely to get any warning signs like cracking or collapsing before triggering one of these deadly slides. To lower your chances of triggering an avalanche, stick to slopes sheltered from the wind with softer snow