Northern San Juan

Warm, quiet weather makes triggering a large or dangerous avalanche more difficult, but it’s not impossible. An avalanche on steeper previously wind-drifted slopes that face west through north to east could break in weak layers in the middle or bottom of the snowpack, and will be larger. Minimize your exposure above consequential terrain like cliffs and gullies where a small avalanche might cause harm. If you find a smooth, hard, lens-shaped part of the slope, go around it. If you find weak, cohesionless snow on continuously steep slopes, stick to ridgelines and higher terrain features to avoid getting swept up by a loose avalanche.