Sangre de Cristo

Strong winds have drifted available snow into gullies and lowpoints, plastering it into stiff slabs. You might be able to trigger an avalanche where you find a thicker drift that sits over older, weak snow. Cracking in drifted snow is a good indicator that you have found a stiff slab, signaling a need to move to a different slope or lower-angle terrain.

Warm weather and strong sunshine increase the potential for small loose avalanches in steep, rocky, sunny terrain later in the day.