Northern San Juan

You can trigger a large and dangerous avalanche where slabs of snow over a foot deep stress a weak and shallow snowpack. Avalanches will be largest where winds have drifted snow into stiff layers on west to north through east aspects. Avalanches can be triggered from a distance and break wider than expected. Wind-drifted features often appear rounded or have a wave-like snow surface.

You can find safer travel options on wind sheltered slopes at lower elevations and by sticking to slopes less than about 30 degrees without steep slopes overhead.