Avalanches in Colorado: two die in separate avalanches on Valentine’s Day

Avalanches in Colorado: two die in separate avalanches on Valentine’s Day

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A snowboarder was caught in an avalanche on Sunday morning near the Loveland Pass ski area, shows the CAIC website.

The snowboarder was traveling in a remote area about 50 miles west of Denver when the avalanche occurred around 9:30 am, local time (11 am ET).

The avalanche occurred on an east-facing slope east of Mount Trelease at an altitude of more than 12,000 feet, said the preliminary CAIC report.

The Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office told CNN’s KCNC affiliate that the victim was a 57-year-old man from neighboring St. Mary’s, Colorado.

Search and rescue personnel found the victim buried in the wreckage of the avalanche, according to CAIC.

About 50 miles north, a snowmobiler was caught and killed in a second avalanche west of the Rollins Pass on Mount Epworth on Sunday, CAIC reported.

The avalanche took place on an east-facing slope, above the tree line, burying the snowmobiler under his sled at Lake Pumphouse.

Colorado saw six avalanche deaths this month alone for a total of ten this season, more than any other state according to the CAIC count.

In December, three inland skiers were killed in two avalanches a day.

Three men, all local officials from Eagle County, Colorado, were killed in an avalanche near Ophir on the first day of the month, CNN reported earlier.
Two skiers were caught in an avalanche near Vail a few days later, with one digging and the other dying, according to CAIC.
How to avoid avalanches and what to do if you are caught in a
Fatal avalanches have also been reported in six other states, including a Washington state police officer who was killed while snowmobiling in Kittitas County, Washington, last week, and four skiers in remote areas who were captured and killed in Utah earlier this year. month.

Nikki Champion, an analyst at downtown Utah Avalanche, told CNN earlier this month that the deadly season could be the result of two reasons – people enjoying more time outdoors and a “really dangerous layer of snow”.

This year’s avalanche season was probably more active because of a “weak, persistent layer” of snow, she said.

CNN’s Keith Allen contributed to this report.

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