Northern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche where you find a cohesive slab of wind-drifted snow over weak snow at upper elevations. Look for and avoid steep slopes that have a lens-shaped or pillowy-looking surface.

You could also trigger a small avalanche in wet snow on sunny slopes. If you begin sinking into rapidly warming snow, move to a shady slope. Avoid being underneath steep rocky slopes during the heat of the day, as wet avalanches often originate from rocks and cliffs and gain mass as they move downhill. Reduce this problem by starting and ending your day early.