Northern San Juan

Slopes where you most likely trigger an avalanche will be open, recently wind-loaded, or cross-loaded, have a cohesive slab of snow resting on older weaker snow, and steeper than around 35 degrees. This is the case at all elevation bands, but the most recent avalanche activity is reported near treeline. West to north through southeast-facing slopes are the most dangerous. Avoid traveling near common trigger points, such as convex rollovers, shallow spots near rocky outcrops, or the edges of slopes where the margins of a slab are the thinnest. Give yourself a wide buffer from suspect slopes, as you could trigger an avalanche from below, and the avalanche could break wider than anticipated. You may not experience obvious signs of instability before triggering a dangerous avalanche that could be large enough to injure or bury you.

Northerly wind on Wednesday will drift snow at upper elevations. Avalanches in the new snow could step down on some slopes.