Avalanche
An avalanche at 9,400-feet in the Keno Gultch area, just outside of Aspen ski resort in Colorado, killed one skier yesterday, Monday, February 23rd, 2015. Reports are indicating that two skiers were involved in the avalanche that occurred at 3:30pm on Monday. The uninjured skier skied out and notified rescuers. Aspen ski patrollers located the body just after 4pm yesterday.
“Members of the Aspen Mountain Ski Patrol successfully located the body of the missing skier shortly after 4:00 p.m at the bottom of a snow-covered chute at approximately 9,400 feet. A total of seven patrollers and rescue equipment were brought to the scene. The skier was pronounced dead at approximately 5:00 p.m,” a statement from the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office said.
The body was left on the scene and will be recovered today due to continued avalanche danger in the area.
The avalanche danger was rated as “Considerable” or 3 out of 5 at the time of this deadly avalanche.
Aspen ski resort received about 18 inches of new snow over the weekend increasing avalanche danger.
This was the 5th avalanche death in the USA this winter. The USA averages 35 avalanche fatalities per year. Having only 5 at this point in the season is a very low number for the USA.
No information has been released about the deceased skier. Authorities are in the process of notifying the persons family.
