Northern San Juan

New snow and wind drifting formed thick, cohesive slabs of snow at upper elevations. Drifts may be deeper and broader across terrain on slopes facing northwest through north to southeast, and more dangerous. Avalanches near the surface could trigger a more dangerous slide that breaks on weak layers in the middle or bottom of the snowpack. Identify and avoid areas with evidence of drifting beneath ridgelines and cornices, or on steep sidewalls of gullies like lens-shaped pillows of snow or a hard, sculpted snow surface. If you see cracking in the snow, stick to slopes less than about 30 degrees without steeper terrain directly overhead.