Northern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche which breaks on weak layers in the middle or bottom of the snowpack on west, east, and north-facing slopes where you find a cohesive surface slab with weaker layers below. The most dangerous areas are northerly and easterly slopes near and above treeline, where west and southwest winds deposited stiff slabs of drifted snow in recent days. Look for and avoid slopes with evidence of wind-drifting such as smooth pillowed features, stiff or cracking surface snow, and slopes beneath freshly grown cornices. Warm temperatures may cause surface snow on lower-elevation sunny slopes to lose cohesion, so retreat if you see roller balls of moist snow or if the snow you are traveling on becomes unsupportable. Wind-sheltered slopes less than around 30 degrees, without steeper terrain directly overhead, offer safer options.