Southern San Juan

Recent snow and wind formed a cohesive slab of snow over an incredibly weak snowpack. Northerly and easterly-facing slopes near and above treeline harbor thicker, denser slabs where you could trigger a larger slide. Avoid travel on and under steeper slopes with more than about 6 inches of new snow, as slides can be triggered from a distance, and may break wider and run farther than you expect. If you see shooting cracks or hear rumbling collapses as you travel across a slope, consider moving to a different area or sticking to lower-angled terrain. Most avalanches will be small but could grow large enough to knock you down and send you for a dangerous ride.