Northern San Juan

The return of non-freezing, nighttime temperatures and cloudy skies on Saturday increases the wet snow hazard on more northerly-facing slopes near and below treeline. It will be easier to trigger a wet snow avalanche on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with 6 or more inches of wet, cohesionless snow. Some loose slides may gouge deeper or fail as a wet slab of snow on rocky slopes or below cliffs, and in places with a brown, dusty snow surface. Adjust your travels to lower angle slopes or call it a day if the snowpack feels hollow or trap-door, and where you sink past your ankles into wet, rotten snow. A small avalanche can have significant consequences in the wrong terrain.