It's been almost two weeks since the last significant snowfall. Time and warmer temperatures have helped to settle and strengthen the snowpack. Slabs of wind drifted snow are mostly stuck in place but it may still be possible to trigger one in isolated areas. Suspect steep slopes that have a smooth, rounded appearance, especially if it sounds hollow underneath. In shallow snowpack areas it is still possible to trigger a deeper avalanche failing on the November persistent weak layer. You are most likely to find this problem on northerly facing slopes in areas of very steep, more radical terrain.

Excellent coverage exists in the Abajos. Brody Levin photo.

The snow surface has been wind affected in exposed areas. Leeward slopes are wind loaded with fresh drifts while exposed windward slopes are sculpted and crusted.