Southern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche where new snow and strong winds form cohesive slabs. Avalanches will be larger and more dangerous on lee slopes with thicker slabs. Additionally, avalanches could be larger and more connected on slopes facing northwest to north through northeast, which harbor buried weak layers in the upper snowpack.

Cracking in the new snow, natural avalanches on similar slopes, or collapsing are all signs of instability and indicators to move to a lower angle slope. You can find safer travel on slopes protected from the wind and on slopes less than about 30 degrees steep.