Northern San Juan

Most slopes are generally safe from avalanches. You may find isolated, wind-drifted areas with more than six inches of recent snow on high-elevation slopes. These are suspect areas where you could trigger a small avalanche. Smooth, rounded surfaces below ridgelines are an indicator of recent drifting and areas of potential danger. Sunday as air temperatures warm and the sun hits slopes the recent snow will become wet and heavy and could sluff off the old melt-freeze surface. These slides will be small, but they can still knock you off your feet. Be extra cautious in complex or extreme terrain where a smaller avalanche could send you on a dangerous ride in places like very steep couloirs, hanging snow fields, or steep faces with cliffs.