Dog Gets Caught in Avalanche in Colorado, Gets Saved by Skiers

Out There Colorado reports that a dog was buried by a large slab avalanche in the central Colorado backcountry last Saturday, and was miraculously saved by backcountry skiers. It was a close one but the mortified pupper came out of the slide unscathed.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) reports that it was the doggo who triggered a large avalanche near Berthoud Pass in Colorado. The dog was following behind 2 skiers when it triggered a slide probably due to a weak faced layer of snow lurking beneath a layer of 18 of new snow brought about by recent wind loading. The avalanche’s dimensions were approximately 70 meters long by 70 meters wide – it was a significant one.

• Related: Berthoud Pass, CO Report: Getting Pitted After October Storm in Colorado High Country

The skiers kept a close eye on the dog as it was taken for a ride in the slide, and began probing at the point last seen after the slide had settled and they had determined that the area was safe to enter. They were able to pull the dog out from the slide and report that it had no injuries, Out There Colorado reports.

At the time of this writing it is still unclear as to whether the dog had an avalanche beacon and was beeping or if the skiers were just dialed in with their rescue skills and were able to locate the canine in a timely manner, sans beacon. Either way, the dog is now safe and surely wagging its tail now that it’s is out from underneath the snow.