Grand Mesa

The most dangerous slopes on the Grand Mesa face northwest to north through east just below the ridgeline. Strong winds and some new snow developed thin, hard slabs on leeward-facing slopes that rest on top of a layer of weak snow buried around one to two feet below the snow surface. Even a small avalanche you trigger below a cornice or on a wind-loaded rollover can step down into the deeper buried weak layers and grow larger than you expected. Stick to wind-sheltered terrain at lower elevations or southerly-facing slopes to reduce your chances of triggering an avalanche.