Sangre de Cristo

Around a foot of snow and strong northerly winds increase the avalanche hazard near Pike's Peak and the Sangre de Cristo range. Most of the new snow is falling on rocks and bare ground, but there are still areas to identify and avoid. The most dangerous places are where you find 8" or more of new or drifted snow, and that snow rests on an old snow surface. Look for and avoid fresh, firm lens-shaped drifts on slopes steeper than approximately 35 degrees. You are most likely to find the deepest drifts of snow just below ridgelines and in cross-loaded terrain.