Northern San Juan

Northerly and easterly-facing slopes with cohesive slabs of snow above weak snow layers are the most worrisome. Avalanches may grow larger on slopes where recent snowfall is deeper than about eight inches. Be suspect of steeper slopes where the snow surface feels stiff, looks smooth or pillow-like, and where you observe cracking or audible collapses. Shallow areas near exposed rocks, on the backside of steep rollovers, and below cliffs are common spots to impact deeper weak layers and trigger a larger slide. If you notice signs of unstable snow or see fresh avalanches, then move to slopes less than about 30 degrees in steepness or a different aspect.