Sangre de Cristo

An increase in westerly winds will be drifting recent snowfall into stiffer slabs on leeward slopes and in cross-loaded gullies above treeline. It will be easier to trigger an avalanche on slopes around 35 degrees or steeper, and where the snow surface looks smooth or rounded. Continually assess how conditions are changing throughout the day, and stick to lower-angle slopes sheltered from the wind if you see cracking in the snow, or the snow surface transitions from soft to stiff. Even a small, isolated avalanche can lead to a rough ride in the wrong terrain.

Avalanche that break deeper in older, weak snow layers are less likely, but still a looming potential where the snowpack is less than about 4 feet deep. These low-probability avalanches can be more consequential if you get knocked off your feet in complex or extreme terrain. You’re more likely to encounter a shallower, overlying slab near rock outcrops, on steep rollovers, and in wind-exposed areas below ridges and cliffs.