Northern San Juan

You could trigger a large avalanche that breaks deep where you find a shallow area of the slope. Common trigger spots exist near rock outcroppings, steep rollovers, and beneath ridges and cliffs.

Recent winds and new snow have formed cohesive slabs of snow stacked above crusts and facets on easterly and northerly-facing slopes. Avalanches triggered on these shallow, weak layers are becoming less likely but are still possible. The most dangerous slopes are steeper than about 35 degrees, are northerly or easterly-facing, and have signs of previous wind drifting. Drifted snow often feels stiff or has a smooth, rounded, lense-like appearance.