Northern San Juan

A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect from 4:30 PM Monday until 5 PM Wednesday. Avalanche conditions are dangerous. You can easily trigger avalanches large enough to injure or kill you. Backcountry travelers triggered many avalanches from a distance or the bottom of steep slopes in the last few days. Safe travel requires giving most slopes steeper than about 30 degrees wide buffers. Be aware of steep terrain above you even if you are in gentle or flat terrain.

Recent snow and winds have pushed many slopes towards their tipping point. The most dangerous slopes are where dense connected slabs have formed over widespread weak layers. Avalanches could break deeper and wider than expected.