Southern San Juan

Triggering a large avalanche in deeply buried weak snow layers becomes a little bit harder with each passing day, but is not out of the question. You can trigger an avalanche from a long distance away if you find a thin spot in the snowpack such as near the margins of the slab or around rocky outcrops. You may not receive any warning signs like shooting cracks or audible collapses before the slope avalanches. Avalanches can grow much wider and run much farther than you anticipate. To reduce your chances of triggering one of these deadly avalanches, stick to smooth, planar slopes where the snowpack is deeper than about five feet. Lower-elevation slopes without steeper terrain overhead offer safer travel options.