Sangre de Cristo

Avalanche

While skinning up a ridge toward Cottonwood Peak from Valley View Hot Springs at an elevation of 12,000 feet I was able to see evidence of only one recent avalanche. The exact location of the avalanche was 38.17038, -105.73609. This slope faces north east at an elevation of 11,400 feet and is heavily treed except for two clear patches. I could see a crown face and slide in the more westerly patch. Using Google Earth I estimate the crown to be 150 feet across and the slide to have run at least 400 feet but I could not see the complete slide path. There was a trace of new snow from the day before and blue skies all around with temps in the sixties down at the hot springs.--- The slope I saw the slide on is a North West aspect not North East and the mountain ridge is the south west ridge of Mount Niedhardt not the west ridge of Electric Peak. I noticed these discrepancies later while looking at a topo map rather than the satellite image I was using to put the observation together.