Southern San Juan

Heavy snow and wind-drifting built dangerous slabs of snow on top of a weak snowpack. Avoid slopes steeper than about 30 degrees with more than about 10 inches of new snow, and where you observe cracking or audible collapses. Avalanches triggered in the storm snow can break deeper into weak snow layers near the ground on northerly and east-facing slopes, and will be the most dangerous. Common spots to trigger a larger slide are near exposed rocks, from the backside of steep rollovers, and below cliffs where the snowpack is thinner. Lower-angled slopes sheltered from the wind without steeper terrain above you offer safer travel options.