Northern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche where you find recently wind-drifted snow near and above treeline. The most dangerous slopes are where you find stiff slabs of drifted snow on northwest to north through east-facing terrain. Wind drifted snow is often found below ridgelines and in cross-loaded terrain features, like gullies. Avoid traveling on stiff, lens-shaped or pillowy snow surfaces. If you find more than 10 inches of new snow forming a cohesive slab or experiencing cracking or collapsing in the new snow, retreat to lower-angled and wind-sheltered slopes.