Southern San Juan

Snowfall and strong winds Friday formed dense slabs of snow on top of a very weak snowpack. Northerly and east-facing slopes are the most dangerous. You can trigger an avalanche from a distance and they may break wider than you anticipate. Avalanches have the potential to grow bigger in size on slopes where you find more than about eight inches of recent snowfall. Steer clear of places where the snow surface looks smooth and rounded, and heed the warning signs of shooting cracks or audible collapses. Give yourself an extra wide buffer around steep slopes and avoid traveling above concave terrain features or gullies to help reduce your avalanche risk.