Sangre de Cristo

You could trigger an avalanche where recent snowfall drifted on top of older snow layers. Wind-drifted areas exist below ridgelines, in gullies, and on the backsides of convex rolls. You can identify wind-loaded areas by their smooth, rounded appearance. Shooting cracks and audible collapses are signs of unstable snow. If you observe this consider moving to lower-angle slopes or areas sheltered from the wind. Small avalanches can turn into bigger problems if you get swept over a cliff or stuffed in a terrain trap like a steep sided gully or roadcut.