Avalanche
An avalanche claimed the life of a backcountry skier near Crested Butte, Colorado, on Sunday, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) has confirmed. According to the CAIC, the avalanche occurred in an area of the Anthracite Range known as the “Playground.”
“A backcountry skier was caught, buried and killed in an area of the Anthracite Range locally known as the Playground (east of Ohio Peak). The skier’s partners were able to locate and extricate him from the avalanche debris, but he died from injuries sustained in the avalanche.
CAIC forecasters will visit the accident site on Monday and we will provide more information as it becomes available.
Our condolences go out to the friends, family, and everyone involved in this incident.”
The skier, whose identity has not been disclosed, was caught, buried, and ultimately succumbed to injuries sustained in the avalanche. Despite efforts from companions to extricate him from the avalanche debris, the skier tragically did not survive.
Forecasters from the CAIC are slated to visit the avalanche site on Monday to gather more details surrounding the incident. The Crested Butte Avalanche Center will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
This incident marks the second avalanche-related fatality in Colorado this season. Last month, a 67-year-old backcountry snowboarder lost his life after being caught in an avalanche triggered in the Waterfall Creek area near Ophir.
The fatality is the seventh in the US this season and the ninth in North America.
