On December 15, a backcountry snowboarder triggered and was caught in an avalanche on Snodgrass Mountain, north of Crested Butte, CO.
The boarder was swept into a tree and injured. The party called 911 and was assisted out of the field by organized rescuers.
See preliminary report below:
Avalanche Details
- Location: Snodgrass Mountain,
- State: Colorado
- Date: 2020/12/15
- Time: 2:15 PM (Estimated)
- Summary Description: One snowboarder caught and injured
- Primary Activity: Backcountry Tourer
- Primary Travel Mode: Snowboard
Number
- Caught: 1
- Fully Buried: 0
- Injured: 0
- Killed: 0
Avalanche
- Type: SS
- Trigger: AR – SnowboarderTrigger (subcode): u – An unintentional release
- Size – Relative to Path: R2
- Size – Destructive Force: D1.5
- Sliding Surface: O – Within Old Snow
Site
- Slope Aspect: NE
- Site Elevation: 10000 ft
- Slope Angle: —
- Slope Characteristic: Planar Slope
Accident Summary
A skier and splitboarder skinned up the southern side of Snodgrass Mountain. They descended the north side, near an area called First Bowl. At around 10,000’, the splitboarder was caught in a slab avalanche. The avalanche carried the boarder into a tree, injuring his leg. The party was able to call 911 and was assisted out of the field by organized rescuers.