Northern San Juan

Strong winds are drifting snow into shallow slabs onto north through east to south-facing slopes at upper elevations. Steer around wind-drifted terrain features. If the snow feels hard underfoot or you observe cracking in the snow choose an alternative route.

Triggering an avalanche that breaks near the ground becomes more difficult with each passing day, but if you do, the consequences remain serious. Avoid thin areas where the snowpack is less than about 5 feet deep. Choose slopes less than about 30 degrees.