Avalanche
On Sunday, April 20, a skier sustained a severe ankle injury after being swept approximately 700 feet down the north face of Grizzly Peak, located near Loveland Pass in Colorado. The Summit Daily reports that the incident occurred during a wind slab avalanche, a common type in the region, which forms when wind deposits snow onto a leeward slope, creating a cohesive slab over a weaker layer.
The Alpine Rescue Team, comprising 24 volunteers equipped with six snowmobiles and a tracked utility vehicle, responded promptly to the emergency call. They approached the 13,433-foot peak from both Loveland Pass and Stephens Gulch. A brief window of favorable weather conditions allowed a Flight for Life helicopter to access the area and airlift the injured skier to a medical facility for further treatment.
According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the avalanche was triggered by recent snowfall and wind events. Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, situated nearby, reported approximately 15 inches of new snow in the 48 hours preceding the avalanche, with wind speeds ranging from 5 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph, Summit Daily reports.
While the risk of large-scale avalanches has diminished with the onset of spring, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center cautions that smaller, yet still dangerous, avalanches remain possible. Backcountry travelers are advised to stay informed about current conditions and exercise caution when venturing into avalanche-prone areas.
