Northern San Juan

Avoid areas of drifted snow. The new snow will increase the avalanche danger. Expect to trigger avalanches once you find more than about 8 inches of new or drifted snow. Slides will break wider where winds drift snow into stiffer layers, like just downhill of ridgelines or along gully walls. Watch for subtle changes in snow consistency and do not proceed into stiffer, chalkier, or harder snow. Avalanche danger peaks on Wednesday. Sun and warming temperatures rapidly change the slab characteristics of the new snow.