Sangre de Cristo
AvalancheRich Rogers · Feb 1, 2025 · Sangre de Cristo
Weather
Strong winds caused continuous blowing snow mainly above treeline but observed, intermittently, at all elevations, warm temps, broken sky cover.
Snowpack
Below 10,000ft the snowpack lacks the volume of snow and coverage is patchy even on shaded aspects. Near treeline, treed, South and Southeast slopes are made up of new snow, a decomposing melt-freeze crust combined with weak facets underneath. The average depth was 40-80cm. Hand shears failed easily at the interface of new snow and melt-freeze crust. The melt-freeze crust was brittle and only 1-5cm thick. Instead of a melt-freeze crust, treed, East aspects hold new snow and facets to the ground. 80-100cm. The above treeline snowpack has a similar structure combined with deeper drifting patterns. North and East aspects have an old 5-8cm thick wind-packed layer mid-pack. Along ridgelines, drifted snow measured 150-260cm on N-E-SE. Snow depth on more sheltered slopes measured 90-130cm.
Avalanche
Observed two natural D2 avalanches on E, 11,880ft along the ridgeline South of Teddys Pk. One remotely triggered D1 avalanche on ESE, 11,700ft, Steep Mtn.