Avalanche
A backcountry skier had plenty to be thankful for when they survived being fully buried by an avalanche near Searle Pass, above Janet’s Cabin near Copper Mountain, CO Thanksgiving morning.
According to a Facebook post by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the skier was rescued by other members of their party. The group was all then able to ski back to the trailhead uninjured.
According to the CAIC, this was a hard slab avalanche triggered by the breakage of weak layers.
Avalanche risks are running extremely high through the weekend with feet of fresh snow dumping on Colorado. Most regions in Colorado are under level 2 out of 5 (moderate) avalanche danger.
The Sangre de Cristos are under considerable avalanche danger, or level 3. The highest danger is in the north and south San Juans and the CAIC issued an avalanche warning yesterday.
Just a couple of weeks ago another skier in Colorado was buried up to his waist in an avalanche on Jones Pass. He was able to self-rescue without injury.
