The bodies of three skiers buried in an avalanche in the interior of Colorado were recovered and identified, officials said on Wednesday.
The skiers were part of a group that triggered the avalanche on Monday in the mountainous area of San Juan Norte, located between the cities of Silverton and Ophir, an area known locally as The Nose, said the County Emergency Management Office. San Juan.
SKIER BURIED AFTER UNLEASHING AVALANCHE IN UTAH BACKCOUNTRY CONFIRMED DEAD, BODY RECOVERED, OFFICERS SAY
A fourth skier was also caught on the slide and completely buried, according to authorities. Ski group members rescued the skier, who suffered minor injuries.
The crews faced treacherous conditions and increased avalanche activity on the mountain that prevented the recovery operation for almost two days, the agency said.
Crews arrived in the area on Wednesday and “worked all day from 6 am to 6 pm” to find missing skiers, officials said. Skiers used headlights that allowed rescuers to locate their bodies under more than 20 feet of avalanche debris.
Although the agency has not yet officially released the names of the skiers, the Eagle County government issued a statement identifying them as Seth Bossung, Andy Jessen and Adam Palmer, all prominent members of the local community.
“Our hearts are heavy with the loss of these three men,” said the statement. “His contributions through his work in local government and local businesses, as well as his personal passions and his impact on the friends and family he left behind, helped to shape the community in a way that will last forever.”
Colorado Sun reported that Bossung managed projects for the county’s energy efficiency department; Jessen was the owner of Bonfire Brewery; and Palmer, a member of the county’s Board of Trustees, directed the sustainable communities program.
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Rescue officials from San Juan County said bad weather prevented crews from immediately transferring the bodies of mountain men by helicopter. When conditions improve, a helicopter will transport the bodies to the San Juan County coroner’s office.
Emergency officials warned of the “unpredictable” dangers of avalanche activity in the hinterland, asking those who venture to check the conditions of the avalanche and be properly equipped in advance.