Full Notification

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER. Avalanche Warning remains in effect for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center Backcountry Forecast Zones- Sawatch zone and Aspen zone. The warning will be permitted to expire for all other zones but be aware dangerous backcountry conditions are widespread throughout Colorado.

* TIMING...Beginning Sunday March 10. Expires at 6:00 AM MST Monday March 11.

* AFFECTED AREA... Elk Mountains, West Elk Mountains, Mosquito Range, Sawatch Range

* AVALANCHE DANGER...Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. The avalanche danger is HIGH (Level 4 of 5). Very large to historic sized avalanche are likely.

* REASON...On Sunday historic sized avalanches ran long distances taking out large areas of mature forest in the Aspen and Sawatch zones. Although this activity is expected to taper today, the size of avalanches will remain historic and we can see continued natural avalanche activity today.

* AFFECTED AREAS: GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS ... EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT ... WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST LAKE COUNTY ABOVE 11000 FT ... WESTERN CHAFFEE COUNTY BETWEEN 9000 AND 11000 FT

Instructions:

avalanche terrain. This includes staying off of backcountry roads and out of structures below avalanche paths without active avalanche mitigation plans. Consult www.colorado.gov/avalanche for detailed information. JK