Southern San Juan

Triggering a large and dangerous avalanche has become harder, but is not impossible. You can still get into trouble if you find the shallow part of the slope and affect weak snow layers in the middle of the snowpack. Likely trigger spots exists near shallowly buried rocks, on steep rollovers, and below ridges and cliff bands. Avalanches on freshly wind-drifted slopes have the best potential to step down to deeper weak layers. Use caution on steeper slopes where the snow surface gets stiffer, or in places with a rounded or wave-like appearance.

You can find safer riding options below treeline, or on low-angled, wind-sheltered slopes without steep overhead hazard.