Northern San Juan

Fresh cold-snow and a strong April sun will provoke shedding of the new snow on sunny slopes. This will happen first on easterly-facing slopes, then follow the sun to the west throughout the day. Wet snow avalanches will be more plentiful on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, and on those with exposed rocks, or cliff bands. Wetting of the storm snow can happen quickly in the spring, so ramp up your avalanche awareness if you see rollerballs or the snow surface gets wet and gloppy. Long-running slides on slopes with 8 or more inches of new snow could grow large enough to be more dangerous – especially if you get knocked over or stuffed in a terrain trap.

On northerly-facing slopes above treeline, you might trigger a shallow avalanche where winds formed a slightly stiffer slab over a hard, refrozen snow surface. Broader slab formation likely exists below ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies, and where avalanches may be larger. If you observe cracking in the snow surface, it means you are approaching a wind-loaded area and to consider an alternative terrain choice.