Avalanche
Hundreds of avalanches have been reported in the mountains of Colorado already this season, claiming the lives of three people. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is already reporting 436 avalanches since September, an increase over the 410 reported at the same time last year. Avalanche centers and search and rescue crews are anticipating a busy season in the backcountry as more people seek to escape the covid-craziness at resorts.
In December alone, there have been 358 slides reported, and in just the last week, 225 avalanches have been reported, 78 of which were human triggered.
The weekend (18, 19, 20 Dec) just gone saw 121 avalanches, 42 human triggered, and three deaths.
On Friday, the USA’s first avalanche death was reported near Crested Butte, CO. On Saturday 19th December, two backcountry skiers were killed in a large avalanche near Silverton, CO.
There have been four avalanche deaths in the United States this season. A snowmobiler was caught in a slide in Wyoming on Friday. Last season there were 23 backcountry avalanche deaths and four inbounds.
Last season (19/20) saw 2,370 avalanches reported by the CAIC.
Avalanche season is upon us people! Please be safe out there