Avalanche
Steamboat Ski Resort, Colorado, reported a human-triggered avalanche on Saturday in the Christmas Tree Bowl, an area that was closed to skiers and snowboarders. Ski Patrol were quickly on the scene to ensure no one was trapped in the slide.
“Safety Alert; Today December 28 there was a human triggered slide in Christmas tree bowl that was Self reported by the skier.
This is troubling for a couple of reasons:
This terrain is closed and not ready for skiing and riding.
Significant patrol resources were needed on the scene in order to ensure no other skiers or riders were caught in the slide.
This means that we had fewer patrollers available for guests on the mountain during this time.
Tracks leading into the closed area are potentially misleading for skiers and riders who don’t know our terrain and may think it’s OK to ski there.
Closed trails are closed for a reason.
When skiers and riders duck ropes they not only put themselves at risk but they also put other skiers and riders, and Patrol at risk. They also delay Patrol from doing the important work necessary to get terrain open for skiing and riding.
Patrol takes these infractions very seriously and skiers and riders who duck ropes to play in closed terrain can/will lose their pass.
Respect all closures, and let’s have a safe season.”
– Steamboat statement
In a social media post, resort officials warned against ducking safety ropes, stating that closed trails are closed for a reason. They emphasized that such actions endanger both individuals and ski patrol staff, and violators risk losing their ski passes.
This incident follows a significant avalanche on November 27 near the Chutes, described by ski patroller Matt Hartsell as the largest slab avalanche in Steamboat in nearly two decades.
As of Sunday afternoon, a report from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center had not yet been released.
