Northern San Juan

Steeper slopes where you find a cohesive slab of snow above buried weak layers, increases your chance to trigger an avalanche large enough to bury you. You may encounter deeper, wind-drifted areas that span adjacent terrain features on northerly and easterly-facing slopes near and above treeline. Any avalanche you trigger near the surface could break into deeper weak layers, resulting in a much more dangerous slide. If you see evidence of drifting like lens-shaped pillows of snow, avoid traveling beneath ridgelines and cornices, or above terrain trap where a smaller avalanche could magnify the consequences of getting caught. Choose wind-sheltered slopes around 30 degrees, without steeper terrain overhead, for safer options.

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