Sangre de Cristo
AvalancheAnonymous · Jan 15, 2018 · Sangre de Cristo
Weather
High winds (gusting >40 mph) but clear skies with blowing snow and wind loading observed on the northwest to southwest aspects of the Blanca - Ellingwood upper slopes between 13k and the summits.
Snowpack
Minimal snow with lots of rocks sticking out, but several larger wind loaded slopes (about 1 ft. to 1.5 ft. max depth in pockets) on generally west-facing slopes above treeline. Near treeline there were drifts several feet deep separated by wind scoured areas. Below treeline along the Lake Como Road there was 4-8 inches of continuous powdery snow above 10k.
Avalanche
I was crossing the top of a small (30-foot-long) slope at about 13.6k facing southwest on Ellingwood Point. I triggered a small wind slab that ran about 3-4 inches deep on an older crust leaving a sharp crown.