Southern San Juan

You are most likely to trigger a large and dangerous avalanche where you find a shallow area of the snowpack. You can find shallow areas near rock outcroppings, on steep rollovers, and below ridges and cliff bands. You can trigger a smaller avalanche where winds have recently drifted snow onto northerly and easterly-facing slopes. Small avalanches in the wind-drifted snow could step down to deeper weak layers, triggering a larger and more dangerous slide. Use caution on steeper slopes where the snow surface transitions from soft to stiff 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 hazards.