Northern San Juan

You can trigger an avalanche on steep slopes at all elevations where recent snow has settled or drifted into a cohesive slab. The most dangerous slopes are above treeline and face northwest to north through southeast. Here, winds have drifted recent snow into deeper connected slabs, making larger avalanches more likely.

Below treeline, warm temperatures will heat recent snow. You could trigger a loose avalanche where you sink up to your boot top in moist snow. Watch overhead for loose avalanches that start from steep rocky areas and gain mass as they move downhill.

Avalanches may break broader and deeper than expected. Lower elevation slopes or slopes less than about 30 degrees in steepness offer safer travel options.