Sawatch

You can trigger a large and dangerous avalanche throughout the Sawatch Range, the Frying Pan, and the Holy Cross Wilderness where you find a one to a three-foot thick slab of snow resting on weak snow near the ground. The most dangerous areas are near the treeline and wind-loaded terrain features above the treeline such as the lee side of a ridge. Here, you can trigger avalanches from a distance and they can break wider and run farther than you anticipate. Watch for signs of instability such as shooting cracks or collapsing in the snowpack warning you of the dangerous conditions. If you notice these warning signs consider moving to a different slope or sticking to low-angle terrain. You can always find safer travel options by sticking to slopes less than about 30 degrees with no similarly steep slopes overhead.