Looking Back at the Avalanches That Killed Dozens Across North America During Winter 2024-25 Avalanches are among the most dangerous natural hazards, and the science behind their formation and prevention is fascinating. These mass movements of snow often disrupt the operations of ski areas and public roads, leading to significant investments in prevention. Triggered by animals, humans, heavy snowfall, earthquakes, and other natural variables, avalanches have the most significant risk of sliding on slopes […] Avalanche Gregg Frantz | June 24, 2025 0 Comments
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 […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 3, 2024 0 Comments
Another Deadly Year for Colorado Skiing Colorado has amassed another deadly winter, with 17 deaths inside ski resorts and 11 deaths caused by avalanches. Colorado is historically the deadliest state for skiing, mainly because of its popularity and expert terrain. The all-time snowpack has caused avalanche deaths to nearly reach a record high during the 2022-2023 season, which is tied for the second most all-time since the […] Avalanche Kiley Chrisman | June 1, 2023 0 Comments
New Updates on Annual Avalanche Report Shows Colorado and Montana Have Highest Rates of Avalanche Fatalities In an effort to provide you with the best information available, here’s an important follow-up on an article we published earlier in the week titled, Annual Avalanche Report Shows Colorado and Montana With Highest Rates of Avalanche Fatalities. The article discusses the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center’s annual report of fatalities from avalanches across states within the last 10 years. […] Industry News Ryan Kime | August 26, 2022 0 Comments
Annual Avalanche Report Shows Colorado and Montana Have the Highest Rates of Avalanche Fatalities 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 […] Avalanche Ryan Kime | August 23, 2022 3 Comments
Lake Tahoe Ski Resort Facing Lawsuit After Skier is Killed By Avalanche 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. […] Avalanche Nick Retterer | February 26, 2021 9 Comments
Skier Survived Utah Avalanche That Killed 4 By Clinging To A Tree A skier caught in an avalanche in Millcreek Canyon located near Salt Lake City, Utah, survived by clinging to a tree. Once the slide had subsided, the skier managed to locate another member of his group, and the two of them began using their avalanche beacons to rescue others buried beneath the snow. Two separate groups were caught in the […] Avalanche Miles Wong | February 11, 2021 5 Comments
Former Avalanche Forecaster Discovers That Approximately ⅓ of Tourer Fatalities in the U.S. Occurred When Tourers Were Ascending Are you traveling in the backcountry this year? Do you spend most of your time identifying avalanche terrain while traveling uphill or downhill? If you think that most avalanche fatalities occur when tourers are going downhill, then you are correct. BUT a shockingly high percentage of avalanche fatalities still occur when tourers are going uphill—32% percent to be exact, according […] Avalanche AvyBrains | December 9, 2020 0 Comments
STUDY: 30% of All Avalanche Fatalities in Western USA Occurred During an Atmospheric River Research published by Benjamin Hatchet, Susan Burak, Jon Rutz, Nina Oakley, Edward Bair, and Michael Kaplan in the Journal of Hydrometerology suggests a strong link between Atmospheric River (AR) events and avalanche deaths. According to their research, 31% of avalanche fatalities between 1998 and 2014 occurred either during or shortly after an AR event. West Coast skiers got very […] Avalanche Roger Romani | February 17, 2019 0 Comments
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 […] Avalanche LadyBrains | November 14, 2017 3 Comments
NEWS: Worldwide Avalanche Fatalities Up 40% for 2014/2015 With better equipment available these days more skiers and riders are now heading into the backcountry. While the backcountry holds the fresh powder and gnarly terrain many of us are seeking it also has many risks, including avalanches. Avalanches are no joke. There were 137 deaths caused last winter season worldwide. While you will see lots of statistics on avalanche […] Avalanche Jack Lafeman | October 26, 2015 0 Comments
40 Percent Rise in Deaths in the Backcountry Last Winter With winter just around the corner and dreams of powder becoming more frequent there are also sobering reminders of the dangers associated with skiing and snowboarding in the backcountry. Last year in Europe 137 people were killed in incidents in the European backcountry involving avalanches, that’s more than 40% above average. Avalanche Michael Moranz | October 15, 2015 0 Comments
New Study: Human Error Causes 75% of High Altitude Avalanche Fatalities A recent analysis of avalanche fatalities on the worlds highest peaks suggests that 75% of those fatalities were the result of poor decision making and forecasting. The Himalayas hold every peak on Earth over 7,000 (23,000 ft) meters including 14 over 8,000 meters. Obviously, above 8,000 meters (26,000 ft), the “death zone”, mountaineers becomes very dangerous. Avalanche SnowBrains | September 3, 2015 0 Comments
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. […] Avalanche SnowBrains | May 29, 2015 2 Comments
75 Avalanche Deaths in Europe This Winter 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 […] Avalanche SnowBrains | February 16, 2015 3 Comments
Two Skiers Killed in Austrian Avalanche | 6 Avy Deaths in 2015 On Monday afternoon, an avalanche in Western Austria left two skiers dead and one in critical condition. A group of seven Germans were skiing off piste at St. Anton am Alberg, when one skier triggered an avalanche, carrying four of them over 2,600 feet down the mountain. A mountain guide observed the incident and called on rescue crews, which brought the alpine police, mountain rescue services, and three helicopters to help. Tragically, two men were pronounced dead at the scene. One of the four men, who was severely injured, was transported by helicopter to a hospital in […] Avalanche ameliatraynor | January 22, 2015 0 Comments
12 Dead from 10 Avalanches in the Alps Last Week The southern European Alps received a huge storm over Christmas week (Dec. 23rd to 26th) that dropped up to 6-feet of snow in 24 hours. This heavy snow fell along with 130 MPH winds creating large windslabs on top of a very weak layer. The combination of this snow, wind, and weak […] Avalanche SnowBrains | December 30, 2013 7 Comments
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