Northern San Juan

Recent snowfall and drifting are stressing a weak and shallow snowpack making it easy to trigger a dangerous avalanche on most steep slopes. Avalanches will be larger on northerly and easterly-facing slopes with fresh slabs of snow around a foot deep, or where winds built stiffer layers of snow over softer layers. Avalanches on wind-loaded slopes have the best potential to step down to deeper weak layers. Look for and avoid areas with a rounded or wave-like snow surface. Make conservative terrain choices and stick to slopes around 30 degrees in steepness, without steeper slopes above for safer riding options.