Southern San Juan

Use extra caution on slopes that face west through north to east where a thick, cohesive slab of snow rests on top of weak, problematic snow layers. While triggering a large, deadly avalanche is slowly becoming more difficult, the potential size and consequence remain the same. You may get no warning signs of cracking or collapsing before you trigger an avalanche large enough to bury or injure you. Place an extra buffer between you and any suspect slopes as you can trigger a slide from below a slope or from a distance, and avoid traveling above gully features with steeper terrain overhead. If you notice signs of unstable snow, move to slopes around 32 degrees or those with a more southerly aspect.