Southern San Juan

You could trigger an avalanche where you find wind-drifted snow forming a slab over weak layers on steep and shady slopes. Higher elevation slopes facing north, northeast, and east are the most dangerous. You could trigger a small avalanche in newly drifted snow, but the bigger concern is triggering a slide on deeper buried weak layers. You can find safer travel options on slopes less than about 35 degrees in steepness.

Blue skies and warm temperatures increase the chances of wet snow avalanches on sunny slopes. Loose wet avalanches often release below rocks or cliffs and gain mass as they move downhill. Avoid steep, sunny, snow-covered slopes during the heat of the day.