Southern San Juan

Use caution on steep, upper-elevation slopes where you find shallow, wind-drifted slabs of snow. Slopes that face north through east to south likely harbor deeper drifts, and might produce a larger slide. The new snow may not bond well to the firm crust below that formed during very warm weather this week, and this slick surface could allow slides to break wider than you anticipate. Cracking in the snow surface suggest moving to lower-angle slopes or wind-sheltered areas. Consider the terrain below you, where a smaller avalanche could have big consequences in complex terrain.