Northern San Juan

So far, six people caught in avalanches in the past three days. New and wind-loaded snow increases your chances of triggering an avalanche on steep slopes, mainly above treeline and open slopes at lower elevations. Triggering an avalanche in a wind-loaded area below a ridge, open start zone, or cross-loaded gullies could break above you or broader than you expect. Avoid slopes steeper than around 35 degrees, where you observed around 10 inches of new or drifted snow. Wind-loaded areas often look smooth or pillow-like. Adjust your travels if you notice the snow surface transition from soft to stiff or observe cracking in the snow surface. Safer travel options exist in areas protected from the wind and lower-angle slopes.

Triggering a deeper breaking avalanche has become less likely, but there is still a lingering potential in shallow areas on steeper slopes at upper elevations. These low-probability avalanches can be consequential in more complex or extreme terrain.