Northern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche where the snowpack is thin near exposed rocks, trees, and margins of the slab. Avalanches triggered from a wind-drifted area could step down to deeper weak layers. Deeper drifts, identified by a lens-shaped appearance or where the snow surface feels hard, are found below ridges, in cross-loaded gullies, and in dish-like terrain features. If you see shooting cracks or hear audible collapses, move to slopes around 30 degrees without steeper terrain overhead for safer travel options.