Southern San Juan

Fresh, dense slabs of snow increase your chance to trigger an avalanche – especially on northerly and easterly-facing slopes. It will be easier to trigger avalanches on slopes around 35 degrees or steeper, and on slopes with around 10 inches of new snow. Triggering an avalanche from a wind-loaded area below ridges or in cross-loaded gullies could break above you or wider than you expect, and travel quickly down the slope with a firm crust below. Veer around places with a smooth, pillow-like appearance and be willing to adjust your travels if you notice the snow surface transition from soft to stiff, or you observe cracking in the snow. Safer travel options exists below treeline.

Triggering a deeper breaking avalanche has become less likely, but is still a lingering potential in shallow areas on steeper slopes at upper elevations. These low-probability avalanches can be consequential in more complex or extreme terrain – even if confined to an isolated part of the slope.