Sawatch

Below about 10,000 feet the snowpack lacks a slab. We found a thin, supportive and potentially worrisome slab above around 10,500 feet on many west through north to east-facing slopes.
As we climbed near 11,000 feet the slabs became thick enough to pose a real threat in steep terrain that held weak snow in early January. On southerly and southwesterly-facing slopes, the January storm snow rests on the ground, so there's no current problem. On the shady side of west through north to east-facing terrain we got a few collapses in areas where set fresh track and punched through the slab at weak spots near trees or wind-scoured areas. Open areas were stiff, supportive, and hollow-feeling.
Looking up to the alpine terrain, roughly 80% of the terrain is barely or not at all snow-covered. Only the easterly-facing areas behind ridgelines held snow. Near treeline, or around 11,800 to 12,000 feet, the snow coverage extends to most terrain, and your chance of encountering a dangerous slab weak layer combination increases dramatically.