Sangre de Cristo

New snow and wind are forming dangerous, cohesive slabs of snow at upper elevations. Slopes facing northwest through north to southeast where you find more than about 10 inches of new snow may produce larger slides. Avalanches near the surface could trigger a more dangerous slide that breaks on weak layers in the middle or bottom of the snowpack. Identify and avoid areas with evidence of drifting beneath ridgelines and cornices, or on steep sidewalls of gullies like lens-shaped pillows of snow or a hard, sculpted snow surface. If you see cracking in the snow, stick to slopes less than about 30 degrees without steeper terrain directly overhead.