Northern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche on steep slopes near and above treeline. The most dangerous slopes will be where winds drifted recent snow into stiff slabs. You’ll likely encounter these wind-drifted areas below ridgelines and in cross-loaded terrain features. However, due to strong winds, you could also find these drifted areas lower in the terrain, closer to treeline. Wind-drifted snow often has a pillowy appearance and feels stiff as you travel over it.

Avoid common trigger points, such as convex rollovers, rocky outcrops, or the edges of slopes where the margins of a slab are the thinnest. Watch for shooting cracks in the snow surface as an indication to stay on lower-angled slopes. You can find safer travel options in wind-sheltered areas.