Steamboat & Flat Tops

Drifted upper elevation slopes lee to westerly winds are the most dangerous, but you might trigger an avalanche wherever you find a recently deposited, cohesive slab on a steep slope. Cracking in the snow and audible collapses are signs of instability and indications to avoid steep slopes. Go around rounded pillows of drifted snow where you find them below ridges, in gullies, and behind convex rollovers. You might not see any signs of instability before you trigger an avalanche. Avoiding these pillows and seeking out lower-angled slopes are ways to reduce your hazard.