Southern San Juan

Many slopes are safe from avalanches, but daily reports of human-triggered slides remind us that isolated pockets of hazard still persist. Steep, shallow slopes facing in the northerly or easterly direction have been the culprits for the most recent avalanche activity. Trigger points include shallow buried rocks and trees, steep rollovers, or beneath ridges and cliffs.

Unsettled weather starts Tuesday night and will continue through the weekend. As snow slowly accumulates, the avalanche hazard will rise. By Wednesday afternoon, some areas could see up to 8 inches of new snow. Assess the slopes you plan to travel for how much new snow has fallen and how well it is bonding to the old surface.