Sangre de Cristo

You could trigger an avalanche in recent storm snow that breaks on weak old snow. Slopes with connected snow coverage with more than about eight inches of new snow are the most dangerous. Cracking and collapsing in the recent snow are signs of an unstable slope and a good indicator to move to slopes less than about 35 degrees steep.

Strong winds continue to strip snow from slopes at upper elevations. Here, avalanche hazard is limited to cross-loaded terrain features with more continuous snow coverage.

On Tuesday, January 7, a backcountry skier was caught and killed in an avalanche on Red Mountain Number 3, near Red Mountain Pass. The avalanche was triggered on a wind-drifted northwest-facing slope near treeline. Our deepest condolences to the deceased skier's family, friends, and community. You can read the preliminary accident report here.