Aspen ===== Current Keywords: CONSIDERABLE, MODERATE, avalanche danger, depth hoar, faceting, facets, high pressure, human triggered, natural, path, slabs, surface hoar, trough, weak layer, weak layers, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast for the Aspen Zone Forecast Issued on 1/17/2008 6:40:27 AM Forecaster: Brian McCall Weather Synopsis A persistent ridge of high pressure over the Pacific keeps the region under strong northerly flow today into Friday. Clouds spread north to south this afternoon bringing a chance of snow showers through Friday, favoring the Northern Mountains. Accumulations will be light as moisture and dynamics are lacking. Temperatures remain unseasonably cold. The flow will back to the west over the weekend with the approach of a much stronger Pacific trough. This may be a good snow producer for all mountain areas early next week, so stay tuned. Weather Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Temperature(°F) 0-5 -10 to -5 3-8 Wind Speed(mph) 10-20 10-20 15-25 Wind Direction NW WNW NW Sky Cover Increasing Mostly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Snow(in) 0-1 1-3 0-3 Snowpack Discussion Frosty temperatures around the area this morning! At 5 am it was -19 on Independence Pass, -16 at Schofield, and -16 on Aspen Mtn. Bundle up if you're heading out. Recent avalanche activity around the Aspen zone has occurred on several different aspects above treeline. On Tuesday there was a large human triggered avalanche above treeline on a north northwest aspect in Maroon Bowl near the Highlands ski area. The slide started about 2 feet deep, and ripped up to 4 feet deep on deeper weak layers, spread out to 300 feet wide, and ran 1200 vertical feet. It was triggered by snowboarders traversing across the top of the path. Also on Tuesday, a fairly fresh natural was spotted along the Highlands ridge, on southeast and east aspects. This one occurred about 1.5 miles south of Highlands Peak. Last Sunday skiers in the West Willow drainage near Snowmass triggered a large avalanche on a southeast aspect just above treeline. The slide was triggered mid path, and thankfully no one was caught. Most of the avalanche activity we have seen this week has occurred on slopes near and above treeline facing NE, E, and SE. We are heading into a tricky period. Avalanche activity is slowing down, with the exception of some BIG skier and snowboarder triggered avalanches. In many areas around the zone the snowpack has several weak layers that continue to cause us problems. The last very cold period of weather this winter, between Christmas and New years, left us with a weak layer that is now buried in the middle portion of the snowpack. At the base, weak facets and depth hoar from this fall are still a concern. Natural avalanche activity is slowing down, eliminating one clue to an unstable snowpack. You will have to look a little closer into the snowpack now for clues to this instability. Pay very close attention to strong over weak layering in the snowpack as it should NOT BE TRUSTED at this time on steeper slopes. The trick to triggering these big avalanches is finding the right sweet spot. Shallow areas with hard slabs on top, the bottom edge of the slabs, spots close to trees, rocks or bushes can all be sweet spots. Unfortunately, we don't have x-ray glasses that allow us a look into the snowpack. Avoidance of likely trigger points, careful terrain selection, and conservative route finding will help you avoid triggering these big avalanches. The next chapter in our snowpack history is currently writing itself at the surface. Cold temperatures and clear night time skies are fueling the faceting process and surface hoar development at a rapid pace. Surface hoar has been observed on most aspects and elevations during the last 2 days. The bigger those grains get the more persistent a problem they will be in the future. The near-surface faceting, aka "recycled powder", is keeping riding conditions good and it is not yet a problem layer. Watch for it as it gets buried with future storms. Avalanche Danger The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on northeast, east, southeast and south aspects near and above treeline. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered ones probable. Triggered avalanches may be large and destructive. The avalanche danger on all other aspects near and above treeline and all slopes below treeline is MODERATE. Human triggered avalanches are still possible, and they could be very large as well. Your backcountry weather, avalanche, and snowpack observations are a valuable asset to our forecasts. Please drop us an e-mail at caic@qwest.net with anything you are seeing in the backcountry today. Front Range =========== Current Keywords: CONSIDERABLE, MODERATE, avalanche danger, cross loaded, faceted, facets, high pressure, human triggered, human triggered avalanches, natural avalanches, powder , slab, slabs, trough, weak layers, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast for the Front Range Zone Forecast Issued on 1/17/2008 3:48:17 PM Forecaster: Ann Mellick Weather Synopsis A persistent ridge of high pressure over the Pacific keeps the region under strong northerly flow today into Friday. Clouds spread north to south this afternoon bringing a chance of snow showers through Friday, favoring the Northern Mountains. Accumulations will be light as moisture and dynamics are lacking. Temperatures remain unseasonably cold. The flow will back to the west over the weekend with the approach of a much stronger Pacific trough. This may be a good snow producer for all mountain areas early next week, so stay tuned. Weather Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Temperature(°F) -10 to -5 0-5 -10 to -5 Wind Speed(mph) 20-30 25-35 20-30 Wind Direction WNW WNW NW Sky Cover Mostly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Snow(in) 2-4 1-4 0-2 Snowpack Discussion Things have finally quieted down a bit out there, with no fresh slides reported since Monday. Maybe powder hounds have opted for warmer activities during this spell of arctic cold? Although we have seen less action the past few days, our avalanche problems have not gone away. Recently, the most problematic slopes have been east, southeast, south, and southwest aspects near and above treeline. The snowpack is plagued with weak facets at the ground, and several hard slabs separated by thin weak layers. This is the perfect recipe for big human triggered avalanches. Thin weak layers combined with hard slabs are notorious for propagating fractures long distances. Remote triggering of slides, like we have seen in both the Front Range and Vail Summit Zones lately, is a common result with this snowpack stratigraphy. A backcountry traveler can cause a fracture on lower angled terrain that then travels some distance onto a steeper slopes, above or below, before it releases. Backcountry travelers commonly trigger slides in areas where the slab thins out or where more weak snow exists, around rocks or vegetation. Unfortunately, we cannot see these areas with our eyes- it all just looks white. Keep this in mind while traveling in the backcountry today. We also have areas where the weak facets make up a majority of the snowpack. With a slab on top, these can be sensitive areas. You will find more of these heavily faceted areas near and below treeline on north, northeast, and east aspects. Activity has slowed down since the weekend, but the persistently weak nature of our continental snowpack, warrants a cautious approach to backcountry travel. Be aware of potential trigger points near rock outcroppings and convexities while route finding and slowly work your way into steeper terrain. Avalanche Danger The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on north, northeast, east, southeast, south, and southwest aspects at all elevations. There are pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger on cross loaded terrain features on west and northwest aspects near and above treeline. Human triggered avalanches are probable, and natural avalanches possible. Below treeline the danger is MODERATE on west and northwest aspects. Grand Mesa ========== Current Keywords: LOW, MODERATE, avalanche danger, cross loading, drifts, high pressure, settling, sluffs, trough, wind-loaded, windslabs, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast for the Grand Mesa Zone Forecast Issued on 1/17/2008 6:08:08 AM Forecaster: Ann Mellick Weather Synopsis A persistent ridge of high pressure over the Pacific keeps the region under strong northerly flow today into Friday. Clouds spread north to south this afternoon bringing a chance of snow showers through Friday, favoring the Northern Mountains. Accumulations will be light as moisture and dynamics are lacking. Temperatures remain unseasonably cold. The flow will back to the west over the weekend with the approach of a much stronger Pacific trough. This may be a good snow producer for all mountain areas early next week, so stay tuned. Weather Thursday Thursday Night Friday Temperature(°F) 10-15 0-5 10-15 Wind Speed(mph) 0-10 5-15 5-15 Wind Direction NNW NW NW Sky Cover Increasing Mostly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Snow(in) 0-2 1-3 0-2 Snowpack Discussion Over the weekend, observers reported a snowmobile triggered avalanche on Battlement Mesa, east of the Grand Mesa zone. It was on a northeast aspect around 10,600 feet. New snow and light winds will add a new load to east, southeast, and south aspects. Expect to find some soft windslabs and drifts, as well as a bit of cross loading on northeast through east through southwest aspects. Slabs will be most reactive on steep slopes near rock bands, especially in the Crag Crest area. Older instabilities are settling out, so the main avalanche concerns will be sluffs and recent wind affected snow. Avalanche Danger The avalanche danger for the Grand Mesa zone is MODERATE on north, northeast, east, southeast, and south aspects at all elevations. Human triggered avalanches are possible, especially on wind-loaded slopes 35 degrees and steeper. The danger is LOW on other aspects. Please send observations from this or any other zone to [57]caic@qwest.net San Juan North ============== Current Keywords: CONSIDERABLE, MODERATE, avalanche cycle, avalanche danger, crusts, faceted, faceting, facets, high pressure, human triggered avalanches, powder. , recrystallized, settling, slab, slabs, trough, windloaded, windslab, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast for the Northern San Juan Mountain Zone Forecast Issued on 1/17/2008 6:28:07 AM Forecaster: Mark Rikkers Weather Synopsis A persistent ridge of high pressure over the Pacific keeps the region under strong northerly flow today into Friday. Clouds spread north to south this afternoon bringing a chance of snow showers through Friday, favoring the Northern Mountains. Accumulations will be light as moisture and dynamics are lacking. Temperatures remain unseasonably cold. The flow will back to the west over the weekend with the approach of a much stronger Pacific trough. This may be a good snow producer for all mountain areas early next week, so stay tuned. Weather Thursday Thursday Night Friday Temperature(°F) 2-7 -5 to 0 5-10 Wind Speed(mph) 10-20 10-20 15-25 Wind Direction N N N Sky Cover Increasing Mostly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Snow(in) 0-1 0-2 0-1 Snowpack Discussion Many backcountry observers are reporting excellent snow conditions, particularly on shady aspects below treeline, and a snowpack that is settling out nicely. Natural avalanche activity is becoming increasingly rare and people are starting to push out into higher, bigger and bolder lines that haven't been touched since before the last storm cycle. And while a majority of tours have been going well, we are receiving reports that emphasize how careful we all still need to be. South of Ophir on Tuesday afternoon, a skier triggered a good-sized slide on a southeast aspect just above treeline. The slide zippered 150 feet around to south and southwest aspects, breaking into layers that stepped down from 18 inches to 4 feet deep, and ran 600 vertical feet. Monday, on the border between the Northern and Southern San Juan zones, backcountry travelers triggered an avalanche on a windloaded southerly aspect. Last week, during our significant storm and avalanche cycle, it was high easterly and southerly aspects that were the most reactive to mitigation efforts. If you travel up high and look around, evidence of recent slab releases and avalanche debris are visible on many high slopes with these aspects. These slopes have a complicated stratigraphy that is a combination of persistent wind slabs, weak sun crusts, and plenty of cohesionless facets sandwiched in between. Just as has been observed and reported, the uppermost slab may be easiest to trigger and as that layer moves, its momentum can cause subsequent deeper failures to occur, causing an increasingly large avalanche. Brutally cold temperatures arrived late Wednesday and sunk in overnight. Temperatures this cold really drive the faceting process at and near the snow surface. Drastic temperature differences between the air and the uppermost snowpack cause the near surface grains to change shape and take on angular and cohesionless forms - this is often referred to as "recycled" or "loud" powder. With time, if cold temperatures persist, the faceting process can go deeper into the snowpack and even "chew" its way through hard windslab. For a good review of the process, take a look at the following web page: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/encyclopedia/faceted_snow.htm It's likely that you will find near surface facets on all aspects and elevations if you look for them. Observers have also reported surface hoar, which is the winter-time and frozen equivalent of dew, on the surface of snow in certain areas. While none of these recrystallized grains pose a concern now, they will be a poor foundation for future snowfall so it would be wise to keep an eye on them and remember they are there. Avalanche Danger The avalanche danger for the Northern San Juan zone is CONSIDERABLE on east, southeast, south, and southwest aspects near and above treeline. Human triggered avalanches are probable on steep slopes on those aspects. The danger is MODERATE on other aspects near and above treeline, and on all aspects below treeline. Unstable slabs and human-triggered avalanches are possible, particularly on steep, convex slopes. San Juan South ============== Current Keywords: LOW, MODERATE, avalanche danger, cross loaded, crusts, faceted, faceting, high pressure, powder" , slabs, trough, windslabs, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast for the Southern San Juan Mountain Zone Forecast Issued on 1/17/2008 6:10:17 AM Forecaster: Ann Mellick Weather Synopsis A persistent ridge of high pressure over the Pacific keeps the region under strong northerly flow today into Friday. Clouds spread north to south this afternoon bringing a chance of snow showers through Friday, favoring the Northern Mountains. Accumulations will be light as moisture and dynamics are lacking. Temperatures remain unseasonably cold. The flow will back to the west over the weekend with the approach of a much stronger Pacific trough. This may be a good snow producer for all mountain areas early next week, so stay tuned. Weather Thursday Thursday Night Friday Temperature(°F) 5-10 -2 to 3 8-13 Wind Speed(mph) 10-20 10-20 15-25 Wind Direction WSW NW N Sky Cover Increasing Mostly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Snow(in) 0-1 0-2 0-1 Snowpack Discussion Riding conditions are good, and observers report few signs of instability. The cold temperatures are driving faceting near the snow surface, creating "recycled powder" on shady aspects. Some slabs are being eaten away. Take a look at [57]http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/encyclopedia/faceted_snow.htm for a good review of the process. Sun crusts are forming on the sunny slopes, though they are still thin. There is always a "but," and it occurred on Monday on the northern border of the zone. Observers triggered an avalanche on a steep, wind loaded southerly aspect above treeline. You may find recently deposited windslabs and cross loaded terrain features on exposed slopes facing north through east through south. If you're in the 550 corridor, take a look at the forecast for the Northern San Juan zone, too. Avalanche Danger The avalanche danger is MODERATE on all aspects near and above treeline. The danger is LOW below treeline. Sangre de Christo ================= Current Keywords: CONSIDERABLE, Human triggered, MODERATE, avalanche danger, drift, facets, high pressure, slabs, trough, wind loaded, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast for the Sangre De Cristo Zone Forecast Issued on 1/17/2008 6:11:25 AM Forecaster: Ann Mellick Weather Synopsis A persistent ridge of high pressure over the Pacific keeps the region under strong northerly flow today into Friday. Clouds spread north to south this afternoon bringing a chance of snow showers through Friday, favoring the Northern Mountains. Accumulations will be light as moisture and dynamics are lacking. Temperatures remain unseasonably cold. The flow will back to the west over the weekend with the approach of a much stronger Pacific trough. This may be a good snow producer for all mountain areas early next week, so stay tuned. Weather Thursday Thursday Night Friday Temperature(°F) 5-10 -2 to 3 5-10 Wind Speed(mph) 15-25 15-25 20-30 Wind Direction NW NNW NW Sky Cover Increasing Mostly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Snow(in) 0-1 0-1 0-1 Snowpack Discussion The preliminary report for the Little Bear fatality is [57]here. Tuesday's snow added up to about 4 inches of snow on the east side of the range below treeline. Expect 6-8 inches of new snow in the deepest areas of accumulation. The north and northeast winds can drift that snow into slabs a foot or more thick. You'll find the slabs near and above treeline on southeast, south, and southwest aspects. There are old pillows and slabs underneath, all sitting on pockets of weak facets. Treat loaded, pillowed slopes with caution. Avalanche Danger The avalanche danger in the Sangre de Cristo Zone is CONSIDERABLE above treeline and MODERATE below treeline. Human triggered slides are possible to probable today. Carefully evaluate steep wind loaded slopes. Please send observations from this or any other zone to [58]caic@qwest.net Sawatch ======= Current Keywords: CONSIDERABLE, MODERATE, avalanche danger, cross loaded, crossloaded, crown, faceted, faceting, facets, high pressure, human triggered, human triggered avalanches, path, powder. , settle, slab, slabs, trough, weak layer, wind loaded, windloading, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast for the Sawatch Range Zone Forecast Issued on 1/17/2008 6:27:22 AM Forecaster: Brad Sawtell Weather Synopsis A persistent ridge of high pressure over the Pacific keeps the region under strong northerly flow today into Friday. Clouds spread north to south this afternoon bringing a chance of snow showers through Friday, favoring the Northern Mountains. Accumulations will be light as moisture and dynamics are lacking. Temperatures remain unseasonably cold. The flow will back to the west over the weekend with the approach of a much stronger Pacific trough. This may be a good snow producer for all mountain areas early next week, so stay tuned. Weather Thursday Thursday Night Friday Temperature(°F) 0-5 -5 to 0 3-8 Wind Speed(mph) 15-25 15-25 15-25 Wind Direction NW NW NW Sky Cover Increasing Mostly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Snow(in) 0-1 0-2 0-1 Snowpack Discussion Overnight temperatures were down right cold. The cold spot of the zone appears to have been on the west side of the Sawatch, near Park Cone; plumitting down to -33F. Winds for the most part have been light from the west. The cold temperatures are having a serious effect on the surface layers, forming surface facets or recycled powder. It will make for some good riding conditions, if you can bare the cold, but it will also become our next weak layer. Sugar is sugar and when it's weak it will fail. News from the Sawatch Range has really slowed since the weekend. Over the weekend, though, observers reported a rash of human triggered avalanches on north, east, southeast, and south aspects. One path in Cottonwood Canyon ran for the third time this year, and had a crown up to 5 feet deep. Reoccurring avalanches indicate continual windloading. An observer in the area mentioned that all easterly slopes near and above treeline are very loaded. The warmer temperatures from over the weekend have allowed the snowpack to settle a bit, though the problem layers are here until spring. Wind and snow over the past week have added several layers of both hard and soft slab on north through east to south aspects. Recent avalanche activity has predominately occurred on northeast, east, and southeast aspects at all elevations. Wind affected snow and more reactive slabs can be found on these lee aspects in near and above treeline areas as well as in exposed areas below treeline. Be mindful for cross loaded terrain features as well. Many hard slabs from our last ferocious wind event are now covered by softer snow A layer of facets still lurks deep in the snowpack, but the distribution is inconsistent and the strength variable. Some impressive slides have run in the neighboring Vail Summit zone to the north on these basal layer facets. These persistent grains will not go away anytime soon so dig around and try to get a feel for their depth and distribution. The snowpack is complex out there. A report from the Mt. Princeton area warned of a very inconsistent snowpack. Dense hard slab and wind effected snow was located next to full depth sugar. Remember, you can avoid most avalanche problems by opting for lower angled terrain. If you can bare the temperatures in addition to the wind chill, continue to exercise safe travel proceedures as they will save you if your predictions are wrong. Near surface faceting is recycling the powder on shady aspects. The cold temperatures are driving faceting near the snow surface. Some slabs are being eaten away. Take a look at [57]http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/encyclopedia/faceted_snow.htm for a good review of the process. Avalanche Danger The avalanche danger in the Sawatch Zone is CONSIDERABLE near and above treeline on wind loaded and crossloaded slopes facing north, northeast, east, southeast to south. Human triggered avalanches are probable on steep, loaded slopes. On other aspects and below treeline the danger is MODERATE. [58]Please let us know if you see any avalanche activity or experienced signs of instability. Steamboat ========= Current Keywords: MODERATE, avalanche danger, cross loaded, density, facets, high pressure, human triggered avalanches, lee , powder , slabs, trough, weak layers, windloaded, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast for the Steamboat and Parks Range Zone Forecast Issued on 1/17/2008 3:42:36 PM Forecaster: Ann Mellick Weather Synopsis A persistent ridge of high pressure over the Pacific keeps the region under strong northerly flow today into Friday. Clouds spread north to south this afternoon bringing a chance of snow showers through Friday, favoring the Northern Mountains. Accumulations will be light as moisture and dynamics are lacking. Temperatures remain unseasonably cold. The flow will back to the west over the weekend with the approach of a much stronger Pacific trough. This may be a good snow producer for all mountain areas early next week, so stay tuned. Weather Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Temperature(°F) 0-5 5-10 -2 to 3 Wind Speed(mph) 15-25 15-25 10-20 Wind Direction W WNW WNW Sky Cover Overcast Mostly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Snow(in) 2-5 1-4 0-3 Snowpack Discussion Areas in the Steamboat Zone picked up another 2-6 inches of low density snow in the last couple days, just in case the powder wasn't quite deep enough. However, observers note that the fluff of a few days ago has changed a bit. Wind has thickened the upper layers, making it more cohesive. However, it still is not moving much. Expect more snow through Friday to freshen it all up again. The main avalanche concern today is the strength of the interface between the old snow surface and all that recent snow that fell over the weekend. We still have concerns with the lowest portion of the snowpack as well. Though it will take a large load to create a failure in the basal facets, if initiated, slides will be big. Observers have noted few signs of instability on lower angled terrain. You may be venturing into higher, more exposed terrain as the trails are broken. Windloaded lee and cross loaded slopes are the most likely places you could trigger an avalanche. With winds out of the northwest and west, snow was moved northeast, east, southeast and south aspects. Windslabs can be quite soft and feel like powder, but can become destructive slides once all that snow starts moving down the mountain. Gradually work onto steeper and more exposed slopes as you get a feel for the snowpack and weak layers. Reevaluate the new snow often, as instabilities may be localized. Avalanche Danger The avalanche danger in the Steamboat Zone is MODERATE on all aspects and elevations. Human triggered avalanches are possible on steep slopes. Continue to watch for steep slopes with windloaded snow. If you have any observations or data to share, please send them to [57]caic@qwest.net. Vail ==== Current Keywords: CONSIDERABLE, LOW, MODERATE, avalanche danger, cross loaded, drifts, facets, high pressure, human triggered avalanches, natural, naturally, slab, slabs, surface hoar, trough, weak layer, weak layers, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast for the Vail and Summit County Zone Forecast Issued on 1/17/2008 3:53:52 PM Forecaster: Ann Mellick Weather Synopsis A persistent ridge of high pressure over the Pacific keeps the region under strong northerly flow today into Friday. Clouds spread north to south this afternoon bringing a chance of snow showers through Friday, favoring the Northern Mountains. Accumulations will be light as moisture and dynamics are lacking. Temperatures remain unseasonably cold. The flow will back to the west over the weekend with the approach of a much stronger Pacific trough. This may be a good snow producer for all mountain areas early next week, so stay tuned. Weather Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Temperature(°F) -10 to -5 2-7 -7 to -2 Wind Speed(mph) 10-20 15-25 15-25 Wind Direction W WNW W Sky Cover Mostly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Snow(in) 2-4 2-4 0-2 Snowpack Discussion Overnight temperatures on Wednesday were downright cold, with a low on the west side of the 10-Mile plummeting down to -18F. Winds have been generally light from the northwest. The cold temperatures are rapidly changing the upper snowpack, forming surface facets or "recycled powder". It will make for some good riding conditions, if you can bear the cold, but once buried, it will become our next weak layer. Sugar is sugar; it is weak and it will fail when overloaded. On Tuesday, in the Vail Pass area, Brad found a widespread layer of surface hoar which is now buried under Tuesday evening's snow. Expect this to be a stability issue once buried by significant snowfall as well. Activity has slowed down a bit out there, but reports of fresh slides continue to trickle in. An observer off Vail Pass saw a new snowmobile triggered slide on an east aspect below treeline in the Lime Creek area. Though not huge, it could have injured or buried a person. Also, an observer noted a slab avalanche coming out of the Shroud, a west facing ice climb in 10 Mile Canyon. The majority of recent avalanches have initiated above treeline on east, through south, through southwest aspects across the zone. Some ran naturally, but many were remotely triggered by backcountry travelers. These aspects continue to be the most likely place to trigger a slide today. Unfortunately, deep slab instability will persist until spring. Our snowpack is plagued with weak facets at the ground, and several hard slabs separated by thin weak layers above. This is the perfect recipe for big human triggered avalanches. Thin weak layers combined with hard slabs are notorious for propagating fractures long distances. Remote triggering of slides, like we have seen in both the Front Range and Vail Summit Zones lately, is a common result with this type of snowpack. A backcountry traveler can cause a fracture on lower angled terrain that then travels some distance onto a steeper slopes, above or below, before it releases. Backcountry travelers commonly trigger slides in areas where the slab thins out or where more weak snow exists, around rocks or vegetation. Unfortunately, we cannot see these areas with our eyes- it all just looks white. Keep these this in mind while traveling in the backcountry today. Activity has slowed down since the weekend, but the persistently weak nature of our continental snowpack, warrants a cautious approach to backcountry travel. Be aware of potential trigger points near rock outcroppings and convexities while route finding and slowly work your way into steeper terrain. Avalanche Danger The avalanche danger in the Vail Summit Zone is CONSIDERABLE on northeast, east, southeast, south, and southwest aspects near and above treeline. Human triggered avalanches are probable, and natural avalanches possible. New snow and strong winds have created fresh wind drifts and slabs, and some avalanches are running to the ground. On north aspects the danger is MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE on steep, cross loaded slopes. On west and northwest aspects above treeline the danger is LOW as winds have stripped most snow off these aspects. At and below treeline the danger is MODERATE on all aspects.