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avalanche deaths

Swiss Avalanche Death Toll for 2024-25 Rises to 21 After Serious Late-Season Accidents

What began as one of the lowest-risk winters in recent memory has ended on a tragic and unexpected note: the number of people killed in avalanches in Switzerland during the 2024–25 season has risen to 21, following a series of deadly late-season accidents—including five fatalities in a single event on the Rimpfischhorn at the end of May. Related: Bodies of […]

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Julia Schneemann | June 10, 2025
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13 Avalanche Deaths Recorded During 23/24 Season Across United States

According to data from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), a total of 13 individuals perished in avalanches during the 23/24 winter season.   Date State Location Description Killed 03/29 WA Mount St Helens 1 backcountry snowboarder caught and killed 1 03/12 MT West Fork Camp Creek near Lost Trail Pass, Bitterroot Mountains 1 backcountry skier caught, buried, and killed […]

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AvyBrains | May 2, 2024
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Skier Killed in Avalanche on Cathedral Mountain Near Lake Louise, AB

A solo skier was found dead on B.C.’s Cathedral Mountain west of Lake Louise after an avalanche over the weekend, according to Avalanche Canada. The skier appeared to have veered off the peak’s shoulder on March 29, landing on Cathedral Glades, a slope at approximately 6,500 feet. The avalanche was a D2.5 size slide and partially buried the skier. The […]

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AvyBrains | April 3, 2024
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Annual Avalanche Report Shows Colorado and Montana Have the Highest Rates of Avalanche Fatalities

Natural avalanche slide on Crowne Butte

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center’s (GNFAC) annual avalanche report was recently released. It shows Colorado to have the highest number of avalanche fatalities over the last ten years (64). Montana was ranked 2nd with 33—still six higher than the national average of 27. Montana is an increasingly popular place to ski and snowboard in the United States. As GNFAC […]

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Ryan Kime | August 23, 2022
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Top 9 Interesting Avalanche Facts

Avalanche

As snowpack begins to build up, many winter outdoor enthusiasts are headed to the backcountry to avoid the craziness of resort skiing. The risk of avalanches is also increasing due to the combination of recent snowfall and higher traffic. Possessing and knowing how to use the appropriate gear and avalanche safety equipment is extremely important when exploring in the backcountry. However, […]

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Aunika Skogen | December 22, 2021
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The Utah Avalanche Center Shares Additional Questions Regarding the Wilson Glades, UT Avalanche That Killed 4 Skiers Last Month

This article was originally published by the Utah Avalanche Center Below are questions we received about the Wilson Glades avalanche accident during a live Q&A session. We couldn’t answer all the questions that people submitted during that session. We have put them into this blog and provided some answers and some links to get more information. The questions have been loosely […]

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Guest Author | March 9, 2021
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Lake Tahoe Ski Resort Facing Lawsuit After Skier is Killed By Avalanche

Ski Patrol 1982

Cole Comstock, 34, of California, was killed by an avalanche on January 17, 2020, on an Alpine Meadows ski run around 10:16 in the morning. His close friend, Kaley Bloom, was also swept by the avalanche and received serious injuries but somehow survived. Comstock was an experienced skier who skied both in-bound and out-bound areas of the resort depending on conditions. […]

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Nick Retterer | February 26, 2021
9 Comments

UAC: Full Report from the MillCreek Canyon, UT Avalanche That Killed 4 Skiers

Six skiers were fully buried, one was partially buried, and four were killed by an avalanche in the Millcreek Canyon, Utah backcountry last Saturday, February 6. Two groups were involved: one of five and the other of three. One skier was partially buried and survived by holding onto a tree as the avalanche swept over him, and then helped save […]

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AvyBrains | February 12, 2021
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Colorado Is On Track For The Worst Avalanche Season On Record.

Be careful out there! MSN Colorado is known for its unstable snowpack, but this season has been especially troublesome. The Rocky Mountain State and the Continental snowpack that it receives can spell trouble for backcountry users. This season has seen 56 people caught in 42 avalanches as of January 31st, 2018. So far, 2018/19 is on track to be the deadliest season […]

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Jason Ringenberg | February 15, 2019
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Only 12 Avalanche Fatalities in the USA in 2016/17 – The USA Averages 27 | We Asked 5 Experts Why This Year’s Total Was So Low?

There were only 12 Avalanche deaths this winter (2016/17) in the U.S. The annual average is 27. So, what happened? Record breaking snowfall characterized much of the western United States this year, with storm snowfall totals being recorded in feet instead of inches, massive avalanches closing roads all across the nation, and “weather events” that left us all saying “OH MY […]

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LadyBrains | November 14, 2017
3 Comments

Alaskan Snowmobiler Killed in Avalanche Over the Weekend; 7th Avalanche Fatality of the Season

  Cooper Landing, Alaska: Over the weekend a deadly avalanche claimed the life of 29-year-old Tyler Kloss. Reports from the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center (CNFAIC) indicate the avalanche was triggered by snowmobiles. Kloss was from Soldotna, Alaska. This marks the 7th avalanche fatality of the 2016-2017 season. Details on the accident: On Saturday, January 28, Tyler Kloss and his friend, […]

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Robin Azer | January 31, 2017
3 Comments

2014-2015 Winter Results in 137 Avalanche Fatalities

The 2014-2015 season was a relatively deadly season worldwide when it comes to avalanche deaths. 137 avalanche related deaths were recorded worldwide this year and that is a 40% increase compared to the long-year average. Although this season was a deadly one, the U.S. had only 11 deaths which is relatively low compared to the typical 26 avalanche related deaths. […]

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Chris Wallner | October 15, 2015
1 Comment

Avalanche Deaths DOWN 60% for USA in 2014/15:

The USA has averaged 28 avalanche fatalities per year over the past 10 winters. This winter, there have only been 11 avalanche fatalities. That is an enormous drop in avalanche deaths. That’s 60% less avalanche deaths this year than the annual average. “Over the last 10 winters an average of 28 people died in avalanches every year in the United States.” – Colorado Avalanche Information Center The first question we all ask is: Why were there so many less avalanche deaths in 2014/15? The answer is fairly obvious: There wasn’t much snow in 2014/15. […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | May 29, 2015
2 Comments

Colorado Supreme Court Rules on In-Bound Avalanche Liability

When skiing in-bounds, you probably aren’t thinking about the potential of a deadly avalanche – resorts take care of that, right? But in a single day in 2012, two men died in avalanches IN BOUNDS on open trails in Colorado. Taft Conlin from Eagle County, only 13-years old, died in a snowslide on the Prima Cornice trail at Vail. Christopher Norris, a 28-year old father of two, was buried in a slide within the ski area at Winter Park. Both tragic deaths spurred lawsuits, and the Colorado […]

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ameliatraynor | March 23, 2015
3 Comments

“Winter of Terror” (1950-51): 265 Avalanche Deaths in the Alps

In the winter of 1950-51, a previously unrecorded number of avalanches rocked the Swiss-Austrian Alps, killing over 265 people in the span of three months. Coined the “Winter of Terror”, this series of 649 avalanches destroyed over 900 buildings and thousands of acres of forests. This period is thought to be a result of atypical weather conditions in the Alps: high precipitation due to the meeting of an Atlantic warm front, with a polar cold front resulted in 10-15 ft of snowfall in a two-to-three-day period. Over 40,000 people were buried under snow over the 1950-51 season.

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ameliatraynor | February 18, 2015
8 Comments

75 Avalanche Deaths in Europe This Winter

avalanche deaths in europe this year.

As of February 10th, 2015, Europe has already seen 75 avalanche deaths this winter. 68 of those deaths have occurred in the Alps. 75 avalanche deaths is a lot. In 2011/12, Europe saw 68 deaths all winter. In 2013/14, Europe saw 80 avy deaths all winter. In 2010/11, Europe saw 83 avy deaths all winter. We’re at 75 with many months of avalanche season left in Europe (avalanches kill many climbers in summer in the Alps). This year could end up with a devastating number of avalanches potentially worse than 2012/14 when Europe had 107 avalanche deaths. Europe is generally at around 30 to 40 […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | February 16, 2015
3 Comments

UPDATE: US Ski Teamers Who Died in Avalanche Did Not Have Avalanche Beacons

Two US Ski Team Development athletes were killed in an avalanche in Soelden, Austria on Monday, January 3rd, 2015. Ronnie Berlack, 20, from Franconia, New Hampshire and Bryce Astle, 19, of Sandy, Utah. The two were freeskiing with 4 other skiers when the avalanche struck. They were skiing down the extremely steep north face of the […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | January 7, 2015
5 Comments

Avalanche & Snowstorm Kills At Least 22 Hikers in Nepal

Category 4 Cyclone Hud Hud hit the hikers location on Tuesday and unleashed an unimaginable snowstorm.

A severe snowstorm and avalanche has killed at least 17 hikers in Nepal and many more are potentially missing. The unseasonal snowstorm was caused by the enormous category-4 cyclone Hud-Hud that impacted Eastern India and slammed in the southern slopes of the Himalaya. These hikers died on Tuesday while traveling along the iconic 21-day Annapurna Circuit trek. “We do not know how many are missing, but there is a possibility that there are people missing.” – Shrestha, the army […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 15, 2014
1 Comment

Avalanche Death near Togwotee Pass, Wyoming on Tuesday

A 26-year-old snowmobiler from Iowa died in an avalanche near Togwotee Pass in Northwest Wyoming on Tuesday, February 18th, 2014. This was the 2nd avalanche death in Wyoming this year and the 16 avalanche fatality this winter in the USA. “A snowmobiler triggering a slide on a south facing slope which failed on a faceted crust around 30 inches below the snow surface. He was buried roughly four feet deep, found with a beacon […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | February 21, 2014
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