Northern San Juan

Cohesive slabs of snow resting above a very weak snowpack makes it easier to trigger a dangerous avalanche on, below, or adjacent to slopes steeper than about 30 degrees at all elevations. An avalanche triggered from a wind-loaded, easterly-facing slope can break around you and wider than you expect, and could provoke a failure in weaker snow near the ground. The deeper the avalanche breaks, the larger it will grow in size and be more of a challenge to escape. Shooting cracks and rumbling collapses are signs of unstable snow, and suggest moving to lower-angle slopes or areas sheltered from the wind. Smaller avalanches can turn into bigger problems if you get swept over a cliff or stuffed in a terrain trap.