Park County Search and Rescue is reporting the first human-triggered avalanche of the season. A group of back country skiers triggered a wind slab avalanche above 14,000 feet on Oct. 25th in the Moose Creek Bowl on Mount Bross in Park County. One skier was partially buried with their head pinned under snow.
The skier’s companions performed a swift rescue using beacons, shovels, and probes, digging the victim out in approximately five minutes. No serious injuries were reported.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said of the incident, “This was an extremely close call and a stark reminder that it doesn’t take much snow to create dangerous avalanche conditions. Early in the season, the most tempting places to ride are often the most dangerous. While wind-drifted snow looks appealing because it covers shallow obstacles, recent drifting snow built stiff, potentially unstable slabs on high-elevation alpine slopes. These slabs are now large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person.”
They offer this advice:
- Avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees where recent snow has drifted.
- Pay close attention to cracking as a clear sign of slab formation.
- With the current thin snowpack, even a small avalanche can knock you off your feet and carry you into exposed rocks, downed logs, or over a cliff.
- As always, get the necessary training, carry a beacon and shovel at all times.
Get the latest statewide conditions before you head out at colorado.gov/avalanche.
