Sangre de Cristo

New snow and wind formed dangerous, cohesive slabs of snow at upper elevations. Slopes where you find more than about 10 inches of new snow can produce a larger slide. Avalanches near the surface may trigger a more dangerous slide that breaks on weak, collapsible snow layers in the middle or bottom of the snowpack. Avoid areas where you see evidence of drifting like lens-shaped snow pillows or a firm, sculpted snow surface beneath ridgelines, cornices, and on steep sidewalls of gullies. If you experience cracking in the snow or hear audible collapses, stick to slopes less than about 30 degrees without steeper terrain overhead.