Southern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted terrain near and above treeline. Southwest winds have drifted snow into soft, cohesive slabs on upper-elevation slopes facing northwest through northeast to southeast. This is where you can more easily trigger an avalanche. Use caution if you see more than about ten inches of drifted snow or cohesive surface conditions, and retreat to more wind-sheltered areas if you see cracking in the surface snow. South or southwest-facing slopes and below-treeline terrain offer safer options.