Northern San Juan

Cohesive slabs of snow resting on top of a very weak snowpack increase your chances of triggering a large avalanche on slopes steeper than around 35 degrees. Triggering an avalanche from a shallow part of the slope below cliffs, close to rock outcrops, and near ridgelines can expand into deeper areas and could step to the ground, taking the entire snowpack with it. Stick to low-angled slopes and know what terrain surrounds you. We are entering a time where it is getting harder to trigger avalanches, but if you trigger a slide, it will be large enough to injure or bury you. Don’t get lulled into a false sense of safety if signs of unstable snow, like shooting cracks or audible collapses, are absent.