Sangre de Cristo

Avoid areas of drifted snow. The new snow will quickly increase the avalanche danger. Expect to easily trigger avalanches once you find more than about 12 inches of new or drifted snow. Slides will break wider where winds drift snow into stiffer layers. Easterly winds will leave these in unexpected places, like downhill of ridgelines or along gully walls. Watch for subtle changes in snow consistency and do not proceed into stiffer, chalkier, or harder snow. Avalanche danger remains elevated on Wednesday. Sun and warming temperatures rapidly change the slab characteristics of the new snow.