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. A montage of the last week's large avalanches from around the state illustrates the lingering danger of avalanches even weeks after our last storm.

Warm temperatures increase the potential for wet avalanches at all elevations. If you begin sinking into rapidly warming snow, move to a shady slope. Watch for overhead hazards beneath steep rocky terrain, as wet avalanches can often originate from rocks and gain mass as they move downhill. Avoid this problem by starting and ending your day early.