Sawatch

The most dangerous slopes are where you find wind-drifted snow near and above treeline on steep, east-facing terrain. You can identify wind-drifted snow by its hard, hollow feel and the smooth, rounded, and sometimes wave-like appearance of the snow surface. Safer travel options exist on wind-sheltered slopes, most slopes below treeline, or by traveling on wind-scoured slopes where there is bare ground and patches of very stiff snow that your feet won't sink more than an inch into.