Northern San Juan

Strong winds have drifted the new snow into dense slabs on top of a very weak snowpack. You can trigger an avalanche on west through north to east-facing slopes near and above treeline. Avalanches could grow bigger on slopes where you find more than eight inches of recent snowfall. Avalanches can break wider and deeper than you expect and be triggered from the bottom of a slope or from a distance. Below treeline, avalanches might be smaller, but can still result in a rough ride if you are carried through trees and rocks. Move to slopes around 30 degrees if you see warning signs of unstable snow like shooting cracks or hear audible collapses.