Northern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche on steep slopes where recent snow has settled or drifted into a cohesive slab above weaker snow. The most dangerous slopes are at upper elevations where southwesterly winds during the last storm drifted snow into deeper cohesive slabs on leeward slopes. Look for and avoid trigger points, like shallow spots in the snowpack near rock outcroppings, below cliff bands, or on steep convex rolls.

If you observe cracking or collapsing, reevaluate your plan and move to a lower angle or lower elevation slope. Also, look for wind-textured snow surfaces and avoid rocky slopes with variable snow depths. Sticking to slopes less than about 35 degrees in steepness will reduce your risk of triggering an avalanche.