Northern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche where you find wind-drifted snow forming cohesive slabs over weak snow at upper elevations. Avalanches will be larger in areas of deeper drifts on northwest to north through east-facing slopes. Drifted snow may look wave-like or have a lens shape and is often found on leeward slopes below ridgelines. Cracking or collapsing in recent snow or avalanches on similar slopes are signs of instability and an indication to move to lower-angled slopes sheltered from the wind.