Avalanche
On April 8, a Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) forecaster was partially buried in an avalanche. The forecaster was skiing on a northeast slope of Mount Bethel, approximately two valleys east of the Eisenhower Tunnel, at around 11,800 ft. He made an SOS call, and two members of the CAIC staff, along with the Alpine Rescue Team, rushed to assist him. Thankfully, he escaped without any serious injuries.
“On the afternoon of April 8th, a skier triggered, was caught, and partially buried in an avalanche on the northeast side of Mt. Bethel. Organized rescuers assisted the skier and transported them out of the backcountry that evening.”
This event underscores that planning for risks doesn’t completely remove the inherent dangers of working in remote outdoor areas. To lessen these risks while ensuring an efficient work environment, the CAIC has a safety program for fieldwork. This program details methods to boost staff safety during field operations. The trapped forecaster had adhered to all safety guidelines: he was well-informed about the current avalanche conditions, had undergone the necessary training, and carried the right safety gear.
- Related: [VIDEO] Pro-Skier Shares Account of Close Call With Avalanche in Get Serious Chutes at Snowbird, UT
CAIC will examine this event to learn from it as it does with public incidents. It plans to reveal more about this incident in the following days.
Alpine Rescue Team, Clear Creek EMS, and Flight For Life Colorado assisted in the rescue.
There have been 13 avalanche-related fatalities in the US this season and five in Canada.
Why was he riding alone?