Aspect is important

This is the view west from campus today:



That long ridge is made up of the Mancos Shale, and the cliff above it is the Point Lookout Sandstone of the Mesa Verde Group.

But I'm not posting this for the stratigraphy. The Mancos Shale is eroded into lots of steep gullies, and on each one, the south-facing slope is bare, and the north-facing slope is snow-covered.

It's all about the aspect, at this time of year.

My field trip spots all face south.