Northern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche where winds have drifted storm snow into thick slabs. Avoid slopes where you find more than about eight inches of new or wind-drifted snow. You can recognize wind-drifted snow by the bulbous lens shape and smooth texture. This snow may crack and collapse beneath you. If you trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted snow, it may step down and start a deeper slide on buried weak layers. You are more likely to trigger buried weak layers where the slab is thinner, along the edges or base of a slope, or close to exposed rocks and trees. You can find safer travel on slopes sheltered from the wind or those less than about 30 degrees steepness, that are unconnected to steeper terrain.