Aspen

Up to a foot of new snow and strong winds are creating dangerous avalanche conditions across the Ruby, Ragged, and Elk Mountains on Tuesday. The most dangerous slopes are where you find deep, stiff, wind-drifted snow along the leewards sides of a ridgeline at upper elevations but be careful anywhere you find over a foot of snow resting on a thick, supportable crust beneath. You can easily trigger small avalanches in these areas and at higher elevations some can grow large enough to bury you. There is still a chance you can trigger a larger, deadly avalanche on deeply buried weak layers on high-elevation, shallow, rocky slopes facing northwest, north, or northeast. Avoid steep slopes in these areas and identify and avoid wind-drifted terrain to reduce your chances of being caught in an avalanche.

Support these forecasts and avalanche education programming across Colorado by donating to Friends of CAIC’s Spring Gear Giveaway Fundraiser through April 1. Donate Now!