Northern San Juan

You may be able to trigger a small avalanche in wind-drifted snow on steep slopes above treeline. The most likely place you could trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted snow is on north and easterly-facing slopes below ridgelines and near rocky outcrops. Avalanches will likely be small but can become dangerous if triggered above terrain traps, like rocks or cliffs. You can find safer and more enjoyable backcountry travel on slopes protected from the wind.  

Your chances of triggering a loose avalanche increases on steep slopes where the snowpack has lost all cohesion. Be aware of these small avalanches in steep northerly terrain, near and below treeline, where the snowpack is shallow and fully cohesionless.