Northern San Juan

Increasing winds drifting snow at upper elevations increases your chances of triggering an avalanche. You can trigger a slide in wind-drifted areas on steep slopes. Even small, isolated avalanches can lead to a rough ride or unfortunate outcome in the wrong terrain. Wind-loaded areas often look smooth or pillow-like. Adjust your travels if you notice the snow surface transition from soft to stiff or observe cracking in the snow surface.

Triggering a deeper breaking avalanche has become less likely, but it still has a lingering potential in shallow areas on steeper slopes. These low-probability avalanches can be consequential in more complex or extreme terrain. Shallow trigger spots lurk near rock outcroppings, steep rollovers, and wind-exposed areas below ridges and cliffs.