Observed settled snow height, BTL, and NTL ranged between ~30-48"(80-120cm). I noticed blowing snow at all elevations from the valley floor. When I approached 11,000ft, wind speeds had eroded the entire snowpack down to the ground on windward ridges. Further away, still in a windward direction, snow surfaces were texture while depth remained 2-3'(50-100cm). The leeward side of ridges held deep and uneven wind-drifted snow that was 60-75"(150-200cm) deep. These wind drifts would not support the weight of a skier, though the surface felt firm. Despite wind speeds, drifting further down leeward slopes was not as dramatic. Setting a skin track in the unconsolidated snow was boot top to mid-thigh regardless of firmness of snow surface, elevation, and aspect, away from wind-eroded terrain. Downhill skiing, was difficult due to the firm, breakable, wind-packed surface snow over top of softer storm snow.

Coniferous forrest in the Culebra Range of the Sangre De Cristos Mountains

Traveled up through Cuchara Mtn Park towards Steep Mtn.

A firm, 4F-1F in hand hardness, breakable wind slab developed over the day. I first observed the slab to be 5-10cm thick, then doubled later in the day. This developing slab laid over-top much softer(F) storm snow.

Over the day, peaks and ridges, ATL, were capped by clouds while valleys remained sunny. Winds were strong WSW, with gusts that swirled around all easterly terrain features. Temps felt to be in the mid-high 20s(F).