Grand Mesa

You might trigger a slab avalanche from places on a slope where the snowpack is thinner, like shallow areas on wind-swept slopes, the base of cliff bands, or steep convoluted terrain with many protruding rocks. On slopes where the snowpack remains consistently thicker than about four to five feet you are much less likely to trigger an avalanche. Without local knowledge of the snowpack, it can be tricky to estimate snowpack depths. If in doubt, choose slopes less than about 35 degrees.