Sangre de Cristo

You can trigger an avalanche where new snow and strong winds build cohesive slabs at upper elevations. Avalanches will be larger in crossloaded terrain features that hold deeper slabs of snow. Wind-drifted snow will look smooth and pillow-like and feel dense.

Cracking in the new snow or avalanches on like slopes are signs of unstable slopes and an indication to move to slopes less than about 30 degrees steep sheltered from the wind.