Northern San Juan

It's a smorgasbord of avalanche problems near and above treeline. Weak layers are buried deeply in the snowpack. They are challenging to identify and may not provide instability clues like cracking. Avalanches on these weak layers can break surprisingly wide across terrain features and run quite far. Much easier to see is the recently drifted snow. You can find drifted snow across northerly and easterly-facing slopes. Avoid steep slopes below cornices or ridgelines, above terrain traps, or where you see lens-like pillows of snow. With the sun high in the sky and warm air temperatures, expect to see wet avalanches on steep, sun-baked slopes. The snow surface will warm first on east-facing slopes, then south and west-facing slopes during the day. Retreat to shady slopes if you see rollerballs or find about 6 inches of wet, sticky snow.

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