Southern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted snow at upper elevations on slopes facing northwest through northeast to southeast. Avoid terrain with smooth, lens-shaped pillows, sculpted features, or recent cornice growth. Retreat to less-steep slopes or more wind-sheltered areas if you encounter cracking in the surface snow.

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 five feet deep. Choose slopes less than about 30 degrees.