Backcountry Skier Killed in Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe, CA A backcountry skier was killed in an avalanche near Lake Tahoe on Monday, February 17. The incident occurred in the Powderhouse Peak area, a popular backcountry zone about 16 miles south of Lake Tahoe. On Monday, after 4 p.m., the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office (EDSO) received reports of an overdue skier. The skier’s vehicle was found in a parking […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 18, 2025 2 Comments
[PHOTOS] Loveland Pass, CO, Closed After Avalanche Sweeps Truck Off the Road On Friday evening, an avalanche struck Loveland Pass, Colorado, sweeping a pickup truck off U.S. Highway 6. The incident occurred around 7:15 PM in an area known as Seven Sister 6, shortly after Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) officials had initiated a precautionary closure due to rising avalanche danger. Related: [UPDATED] Berthoud Pass, CO, Remains Closed as More Avalanches Impact […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 15, 2025 0 Comments
Mammoth Mountain, CA, Closed After Inbounds Avalanche Seriously Injures Patroller An avalanche at Mammoth Mountain, California, caught two ski patrollers today, prompting the resort to close for the day. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. during routine avalanche mitigation work on Lincoln Mountain, an area known for its steep, challenging terrain. Related: 2 Avalanches Reported at Palisades Tahoe, CA One patroller was successfully extracted from the scene and is responsive, […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 14, 2025 0 Comments
2 Avalanches Reported at Palisades Tahoe, CA Palisades Tahoe, California, reported two small avalanches today, requiring ski patrol and rescue teams to respond. The slides occurred around 10:50 a.m. on the Palisades side of the resort, one in the Enchanted Forest area and another near Olympic Lady. Resort officials reported no injuries from the incident. Ski patrol members and avalanche rescue dog teams were immediately dispatched to […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 14, 2025 0 Comments
Black Diamond Recalls Recon LT Avalanche Transceiver Due to a Corrosion Issue In conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada, Black Diamond Equipment is recalling the Black Diamond Recon LT avalanche transceiver and related avalanche safety sets due to a corrosion issue that may cause it to malfunction. Recon LT owners can have their transceivers repaired, exchanged for a different model, or refunded. Related: A Deeper Look […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 14, 2025 0 Comments
Federal Cuts Threaten Sierra Avalanche Center’s Forecasting Operations The Sierra Avalanche Center (SAC), responsible for avalanche forecasting in the Tahoe region, faces an imminent reduction in its forecasting capabilities due to federal staffing cuts. The U.S. Forest Service has announced plans to lay off one of SAC’s three avalanche forecasters as early as next week, a decision that could severely impact public safety during the heart of winter. […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 10, 2025 2 Comments
3 Skiers Caught in Avalanche in Dutch Draw After Ducking Rope From Park City Mountain Resort, UT On Saturday afternoon, three backcountry skiers were caught in a skier-triggered avalanche in Dutch Draw, just outside Park City Mountain Resort, Utah. The incident, which occurred at 1:15 p.m., prompted an immediate response from Summit County Search and Rescue and Park City Ski Patrol. Two skiers successfully extricated themselves from the slide, while a third was buried. The unburied skiers […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 8, 2025 0 Comments
Skier Killed in Avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT A skier was killed and another injured in an avalanche today in the Silver Fork area of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, today. Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Arlan Bennett confirmed that rescue teams responded at 12:48 p.m. The avalanche buried two skiers, both in their 50s. One managed to escape with a leg injury and was transported to the hospital, […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 8, 2025 0 Comments
Patrollers Evacuated From Closed Chairlift After Mitigation Caused Huge Avalanche at Big Sky Resort, MT During avalanche mitigation work on Wednesday, February 5, an avalanche was triggered in the Bone Crusher area at Big Sky Resort, Montana, before the resort opened. A significant amount of snow was deposited in and around the upper lift terminal of Swift Current 6. Related: Inbounds Avalanche Ushers Upper Mountain Closure at Alyeska Resort, AK The Big Sky Resort Ski […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 5, 2025 2 Comments
Group of 7 Caught and Carried in Avalanche Outside Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY, Boundary Yesterday, a group of seven triggered a large hard slab avalanche south of the boundary of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming. All members of the party were caught and carried. Related: Snowmobiler Killed by Avalanche in Utah’s Monte Cristo Snowmobile Area The large skier-triggered avalanche occurred on a northeast-facing slope at 9,400′. It likely failed on the new/old interface buried […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 4, 2025 0 Comments
Snowmobiler Killed by Avalanche in Utah’s Monte Cristo Snowmobile Area A 37-year-old snowmobiler from Evanston, Wyoming, was killed in an avalanche on Monday afternoon in Utah’s Monte Cristo Snowmobile Area. The avalanche, near the Rich County and Cache County line, sparked a massive multi-agency rescue operation that lasted several hours. Related: Head On A Swivel – Snowmobile Avalanche Awareness The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed pending family notification, was snowmobiling […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 4, 2025 0 Comments
2 More Avalanche Fatalities in the Alps Bring Europe’s Death Toll to 13 This Week Two backcountry skiers died in separate avalanches in the French Alps on Sunday, February 2, bringing the total number of avalanche fatalities in Europe to 13 in just one week. The incidents occurred in Bessans, Savoie, and Puy-Saint-Vincent, both areas where avalanche risk was high due to unstable snow conditions following recent heavy snowfalls. Related: Deadly Day in the French […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 3, 2025 0 Comments
2 Backcountry Skiers Killed in Avalanche Near Davos, Switzerland, Despite Guide & Safety Gear, Marking the 11th Avalanche Death This Week in the Alps An avalanche in the Swiss Alps claimed the lives of two skiers on Thursday afternoon, January 30, as they attempted to summit Sertig Pass, a popular backcountry route near Davos. A Swiss ski instructor and three guests had set out from Sertig Dörfli in the morning, making their way through the Chüealptal valley on their way to the 2,739-meter (8,985-foot) pass. […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 1, 2025 0 Comments
British Skier Killed by Massive Avalanche Over 3,000 Feet Long in Chamonix, France A 55-year-old British man was killed after a massive avalanche swept him away in the French Alps on Tuesday, January 28. According to local authorities, the slide occurred in an off-piste area of the Grands Montets ski resort in the Chamonix Valley, near Mont Blanc. The avalanche, described as “very large,” measured over 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) long and 1,300 […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 29, 2025 0 Comments
European Avalanche Institutes Urge to Exercise Restraint Post Snowstorm The European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS) has issued a stark warning for winter sports enthusiasts on Wednesday, January 29, following significant snowfall in the Alps. Up to 1 meter (3 feet) of snow has accumulated on the south side of the Alps since Sunday, January 26, creating hazardous conditions for off-piste skiing and snowboarding. “On this first sunny day, restraint […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 29, 2025 2 Comments
Inbounds Avalanche Ushers Upper Mountain Closure at Alyeska Resort, AK An inbounds avalanche above Glacier Bowl at Alyeska Resort late Monday prompted the temporary closure of upper mountain terrain, including the Tram and Glacier Bowl Express, resort officials said Tuesday. No injuries or missing persons were reported. Related: British Columbia Backcountry Report: Skiing Powder On A Gorgeous BC Nose, Triggering a Micro-Avalanche, Surfing A Wind-Lip , & Jumping in Donger-Land Alyeska’s […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 27, 2025 0 Comments
Colorade Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) Reminds Public That 40% of Colorado Avalanche Fatalities Happen at Moderate Danger Backcountry travelers urged to stay safe over MLK holiday weekend. As avalanche danger across much of Colorado drops to MODERATE (2 of 5) for the first time in weeks, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) urges backcountry travelers to use caution this holiday weekend. Historically, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend has been a high-risk period, with fatal avalanche […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 18, 2025 0 Comments
CAIC Full Report From Red Mountain Pass, CO, Avalanche Fatality: Victim Discovered by Wife After He Failed to Return Home On Tuesday, January 7, an avalanche caught, buried, and killed a backcountry skier on Red Mountain Number 3, east of Red Mountain Pass, Colorado. The area is known locally as Bollywood and is about six miles east of Telluride. The skier was identified as Donald “Don” Moden Jr. Related: Backcountry Skier Killed by Avalanche Near Telluride, CO The Colorado Avalanche […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 15, 2025 0 Comments
4 Skiers Swept Away by Avalanche & 2 Killed in Off-Piste Area Near Val d’Isère, France Tragedy struck the iconic Val d’Isère ski resort in France on Sunday, January 12, when an avalanche claimed the lives of two skiers in an off-piste area known for its challenging terrain and breathtaking views. The men, aged 29 and 34, were part of a group of six Estonians skiing on the backside of the Cugnaï, an unmarked slope outside […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 12, 2025 0 Comments
Backcountry Skier Killed by Avalanche Near Telluride, CO On Tuesday, January 7, an avalanche caught, buried, and killed a backcountry skier on Red Mountain Number 3, east of Red Mountain Pass, Colorado. The area is known locally as Bollywood and is about six miles east of Telluride. Related: SnowBrains Podcast Ep. 73 | Dr. Ethan Greene – Director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center The avalanche occurred on […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 7, 2025 3 Comments