Northern San Juan

Cohesive slabs of snow teetering on a very weak snowpack makes it easy to trigger a dangerous avalanche on, below, or adjacent to slopes steeper than about 30 degrees at all elevations. On Thursday, a very close call in Swamp Canyon near the town of Ophir is a stark reminder that the snowpack is still grumpy and reactive. Avalanches triggered from lower-angled terrain below steeper slopes or a large avalanche path could propagate uphill creating a broader, more destructive slide. Avalanches on wind-loaded, easterly-facing slopes may provoke a deeper failure near the ground that will be more difficult to escape.

Adjust your travels to low-angled slopes if you observe cracking, hear audible collapses, or see recent avalanches on slopes similar to those you plan to ride. Smaller avalanches can turn into bigger problems if you get swept over a cliff, pushed through dense trees, or stuffed in a terrain trap.