Northern San Juan

You could trigger an avalanche on steep slopes where recent snow has settled or drifted into a cohesive slab above weaker snow. The most dangerous slopes are at upper elevations where winds have drifted snow into deeper cohesive slabs. Look for and avoid trigger points near rock outcroppings, below cliff bands, or on steep convex rolls.

If you observe cracking or collapsing, reevaluate your plan and move to a lower angle or lower elevation slope. Sticking to slopes less than about 35 degrees in steepness will reduce your risk of triggering an avalanche.