Steamboat & Flat Tops

The most dangerous areas are where the snowpack is shallow, and it is easier for you to affect deeply buried weak snow. Avoid traveling near shallow spots, like rock outcrops, on otherwise deep and planar slopes. By sticking to smooth slopes that hold more than six feet of snow, you can reduce your chances of triggering a large avalanche. If you are unsure how deep the snowpack is, you can always stick to slopes less than about 30 degrees with no steep slopes overhead for safer backcountry travel.