Avalanche
The search resumes today for a snowmobiler missing following an avalanche near Ruby Mountain, CO yesterday.
A snowmobiler is missing after an avalanche near Ruby Mountain southeast of Rand on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Other members of the rider’s group searched for him before calling the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for help. Jackson County Search and Rescue reached the site last night, but could not find the missing rider. Jackson County will continue the search today with the help of other search and rescue volunteers and avalanche dogs. We will post updates when more information is available.
The avalanche was on a northeast-facing slope above 11,000 ft. Early reports describe the riders traveling across the slope more than once before the avalanche. Slopes at all elevations and all aspects are dangerous today. Avalanches are breaking much wider than people are used to. You can trigger avalanches from low-angle terrain below steep slopes. Two people lost their lives in avalanches on Sunday and now a third is missing.
Please stick to slopes less than 30 degrees and avoid traveling under steeper slopes. Places you’ve traveled in previous years may not be safe today, or the rest of the winter.
– CAIC Facebook Post
19 people have died in avalanches in the USA in the past 18-days making this the deadliest avalanche cycle in US recreational history by far.
A backcountry snowboarder was killed in a large avalanche in Colorado on February 14, 2021, on Mount Trelease.
A snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche west of Rollins Pass, CO on February 14, 2021.
A backcountry snowboarder was killed in an avalanche in Beehive Basin near Big Sky, Montana on February 14, 2021.
These were the 23rd, 24th, & 25th avalanche deaths in the USA this season.
These were the 17th, 18th, & 19th avalanche fatalities in the past 16-days.
These were the 9th & 10th avalanche deaths in Colorado this season.
