Southern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche on steep, northerly-facing slopes that harbor wind-drifted snow over weaker snow. Avalanches triggered from a deep pocket of snow can break near the ground producing a larger, more dangerous avalanche. Lens-shaped pillows of snow identify deeper drifted areas and may sound hollow as you move over them.

Use caution below ridgetops, near rocky outcrops, and in concave terrain features that catch and hold early-season snow. If you observe cracking in the snow surface or hear audible collapses, stick to lower-angled terrain or southerly-facing slopes to help reduce your avalanche risk. Triggering even a small slide can lead to a rough ride due to shallow and variable snow cover.