Southern San Juan

Spring weather is melting the snowpack and reducing the likelihood of triggering avalanches on many slopes. Still, you might be able to trigger a slab avalanche where the snowpack is cold and dry on steep, shady slopes in the alpine. Avoid steep, rocky slopes above treeline where the snowpack is shallower and trigger points are more abundant.

Safer travel can also be found on sunny slopes with supportive crusts early in the day, but head for the shade, or back home, if you start to sink deep into wet, mushy snow.