Sangre de Cristo

You could trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted snow on slopes that face north, northeast, and east at upper elevations. Avoid common trigger spots near exposed rocks, on steep rollovers, and below cliffs where the snowpack is thinner and you are more likely to impact weaker snow below. Avoid places where you see evidence of drifting like lens-shaped pillows or where the snow feels hard underfoot. If you do trigger an avalanche, it could break on weak layers near the ground and make for a rough ride. Stick to lower-elevation areas or slopes less than about 30 degrees steepness for safer options.