Northern San Juan

It's become more difficult for you to trigger an avalanche that breaks deep within the snowpack. Above treeline, the wind has pressed the snow surface into firm, stubborn slabs. Below treeline, the snowpack has become weak and cohesionless. You might trigger an avalanche if you find a shallow trigger point on a steep slope that harbors the right combination of a cohesive slab over a weak layer. You're most likely to encounter this problem on northeast and east-facing terrain at upper elevations. If you encounter cracking or collapsing in the snow, move to lower-angled slopes.