Northern San Juan

Recent winds and snow have formed cohesive slabs above weak snow. The more dangerous areas are steep slopes that face north, northeast, and east, where winds have drifted snow into thicker slabs. Avoid drifted areas near ridgelines and trigger points like convex rolls or steep slopes beneath cliff bands. Cracking in the snow surface is a sign of instability, although you may not observe this sign before triggering an avalanche.

Safer travel options exist on lower-angled slopes or slopes that face west or south.