Southern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche where you find cohesive slabs of drifted snow near and above treeline. The most dangerous slopes face the north half of the compass where weak snow rests underneath the most recent snow. Westerly wind continues drifting snow, building slabs, and stiffening slopes, making it easier for you to trigger avalanches on leeward slopes. You may be able to trigger an avalanche from below or from a distance, so give suspect steep slopes a wide berth. Cracking, collapsing, and recent avalanche activity are all red flags, indicating you should step back and stick to slopes less than 30 degrees in steepness.