Northern San Juan

Strong westerly wind drifting snow increases the chances of natural and human-triggered avalanches at all elevations. Avoid slopes where you find 8 inches or more of cohesive snow on slopes steeper than around 30 degrees. On north through east to southeast, avalanches in the drifted snow could step down, triggering a larger and more dangerous slide.

Pay attention to cracking and collapsing, which indicate instability and should cause you to retreat to lower-angled slopes. Avalanche conditions are the most dangerous we’ve seen in a month.