Special Avalanche Advisory in Effect Across Colorado This Week Amid Unstable Spring Conditions A special avalanche advisory remains in effect statewide as Colorado currently shifts from a winter-like storm cycle to more typical spring conditions, according to an update shared by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). While recent May weather brought widespread snowfall across the high country, forecasters warn that the coming days could bring sudden and unstable conditions as skies clear […] Avalanche AvyBrains | May 8, 2025 0 Comments
CAIC Issues Safety Alert for Colorado Backcountry after 500 Reported Avalanches in February Colorado has seen an uptick in snow totals this season, but more snow totals can often mean unsafe backcountry conditions. In the current month alone, more than 500 avalanches have been reported across the state, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). The surge in avalanche activity is largely due to a series of large storms depositing snow on […] Industry News Anders Henrikson | February 25, 2025 0 Comments
Avalanche Near Silverton, CO, Tragically Kills Snowboarder as Friend Manages to Escape A party of two backcountry tourers (one skier and one snowboarder) was traveling in the Middle Fork of Mineral Creek drainage, west of Silverton, Colorado. On Thursday, February 20, the pair was caught in an avalanche on a terrain feature locally known as The Nose. One escaped the avalanche, while the other was carried in the debris. Staff from a nearby […] Avalanche Gregg Frantz | February 20, 2025 1 Comment
Colorade Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) Reminds Public That 40% of Colorado Avalanche Fatalities Happen at Moderate Danger Backcountry travelers urged to stay safe over MLK holiday weekend. As avalanche danger across much of Colorado drops to MODERATE (2 of 5) for the first time in weeks, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) urges backcountry travelers to use caution this holiday weekend. Historically, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend has been a high-risk period, with fatal avalanche […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 18, 2025 0 Comments
CAIC Full Report From Red Mountain Pass, CO, Avalanche Fatality: Victim Discovered by Wife After He Failed to Return Home On Tuesday, January 7, an avalanche caught, buried, and killed a backcountry skier on Red Mountain Number 3, east of Red Mountain Pass, Colorado. The area is known locally as Bollywood and is about six miles east of Telluride. The skier was identified as Donald “Don” Moden Jr. Related: Backcountry Skier Killed by Avalanche Near Telluride, CO The Colorado Avalanche […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 15, 2025 0 Comments
Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) Warns of Dangerous Avalanche Conditions During Thanksgiving Week The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is warning backcountry travelers of a significant increase in avalanche danger across the Colorado mountains during Thanksgiving week. An atmospheric river is bringing heavy snowfall to Colorado this week, with up to three feet expected in some areas and at least two feet across much of the mountains. Related: Avalanche Watch Issued For Sierra […] Avalanche AvyBrains | November 26, 2024 0 Comments
CAIC to Host 17th Annual Benefit Bash in Breckenridge, CO Mark your calendars for November 23, folks, because the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is back for its 17th annual Benefit Bash. This event, lasting from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. MST at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge, Colorado, will feature live music, drinks, auctions, giveaways, and more to celebrate avalanche safety and the backcountry community. Tickets are currently on […] Industry News Quinn Brophy | November 6, 2024 0 Comments
Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) Begins Daily Forecasts as Avalanche Season Kicks Off Last week, a snowstorm dropped over 20 inches in many parts of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, marking the beginning of ski season for riders in the state. Wolf Creek Resort has already opened for the season, and many others are making snow with opening days on the horizon. As the snow accumulates in the resorts, so does it gather in Colorado’s […] Avalanche AvyBrains | October 31, 2024 0 Comments
Colorado Has Twice as Many Avalanche Deaths as any Other State Avalanches can occur in mountains as snow accumulates on steep slopes. If the snowpack becomes unstable, it can suddenly release and rapidly descend downslope. Some avalanches have occurred in the Northeast but do not happen nearly as much compared to the Western U.S. Alaska, Washington, Utah, and Montana are known for being prone to the risk of avalanches. However, Colorado […] Avalanche Gregg Frantz | October 15, 2024 0 Comments
Roof Avalanche in Breckenridge, CO, Buries 2 Teens, Leaving 1 Critically Injured According to a Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) report, on Monday, March 18, a roof avalanche partially buried two teenagers at a Breckenridge, Colorado home. The incident occurred while the teens were playing outside and pulling icicles from the side of the house when snow slid off the roof. One of them was seriously injured and had to be airlifted […] Industry News Brent Thomas | March 21, 2024 0 Comments
Colorado Saw More Than 1,100 Avalanches in February Alone According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), the state of Colorado saw over 1,100 avalanches in February. Only 204 of the recorded avalanches were caused by humans and 23 of them caught or carried at least one person. Unfortunately, there was one fatality for the month. 500 avalanches were considered large (D2), and 22 were very large (D3). Four […] Avalanche Brent Thomas | March 14, 2024 0 Comments
CAIC Issues Avalanche Warning for Large Parts of Colorado’s Mountain Ranges from Wednesday to Friday The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) has issued an avalanche warning for large parts of Colorado’s mountain ranges from Wednesday, February 7, to Friday, February 9. Avalanche warnings are in place for the Park Range and Flat Top mountains, Grand and Battlement Mesa’s, the West Elks through the Ragged and Ruby Mountains to Huntsman Ridge, as well as San Juan, […] Industry News SnowBrains | February 8, 2024 0 Comments
‘Friends of CAIC’ Organization Teams Up With Sendy Sauce to Raise Avalanche Awareness Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (‘Friends of CAIC’), a leading non-profit organization dedicated to supporting avalanche forecasting and education, is thrilled to announce a new collaboration with Sendy Sauce, a mountain-based hot sauce business, to create a new “Spicy Moderate” labeled hot sauce to raise awareness about Colorado’s notoriously tricky snowpack. Designed to appeal to a broad […] Industry News SnowBrains | November 15, 2023 0 Comments
“If an Animal Can Trigger an Avalanche Right Now, So Can You.” | Suspected Wildlife-Triggered Avalanche Reported in Colorado Human-triggered and natural avalanches aren’t the only kinds of slides backcountry travelers need to be aware of. The Colorado Avalanche Center shared an Instagram post on Sunday showing what appears to be the remnants of a large avalanche that was triggered by an animal in the Colorado Rockies. According to the CAIC, an avalanche report was submitted by a hunter […] Avalanche Martin Kuprianowicz | November 6, 2023 0 Comments
CAIC Begins Daily Forecasts as Avalanche Season Kicks Off Last week, a snowstorm dropped over 20 inches in many parts of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, marking the beginning of ski season for riders in the state. Resorts Arapahoe Basin and Keystone have already opened terrain this week, and many more mountains are set to open later this month. As the snow accumulates in the resorts, so does it gather in […] Industry News Kenneth Condon | November 3, 2023 0 Comments
CAIC Releases Full Report From Maroon Bowl, Near Aspen Highlands, CO, Avalanche That Killed Backcountry Skier Yesterday the Colorado Avalanche Information Center released its full report from the fatal slide near Aspen Highlands, CO, on March 19th, 2023. The findings can be a learning opportunity for all of us. Related: CAIC Releases Full Harrowing Report of Avalanche that Killed a Skier Near Marble, CO The full report is below: Avalanche Details Location: Maroon Bowl, north of Highland […] Avalanche AvyBrains | March 28, 2023 0 Comments
CAIC Releases Full Harrowing Report of Avalanche that Killed a Skier Near Marble, CO This weekend, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center released its full report from the fatal slide near Marble, CO, on March 17th, 2023. The report is hard to read in some places. The slide carried the three skiers 2,500 feet over three cliff bands, breaking bones, causing a concussion, and ripping beacons and avalanche airbags from their bodies before burying them. The […] Avalanche AvyBrains | March 27, 2023 1 Comment
Colorado Could Start Using A New Avalanche Forecasting Method Accurately forecasting avalanche risk remains a top priority in Colorado. The Colorado General Assembly’s Joint Budget Committee on Feb. 21 voted in favor of sponsoring a $1 million funding effort to assist the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) transition from a fixed zone forecasting method to a flexible-zone method. The current fixed-zone method creates avalanche forecasts for large, pre-determined regions […] Avalanche Luke Guilford | February 28, 2023 1 Comment
4 Coloradans Died in Avalanches the Last 3 Weekends and the Danger Will Continue through the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reports a string of fatal accidents and continuing dangerous avalanche conditions this upcoming holiday weekend, urging people to heed danger warnings and stop this tragic trend. Related: CAIC Releases Full Report on Avalanche Fatality Near Breckenridge Ski Area, CO Involving Father and Son Four people have died in avalanches since December 26 and there is […] Avalanche AvyBrains | January 12, 2023 1 Comment
Over 400 Avalanches Reported in Colorado in Last 10 Days Avalanche danger is high in Colorado right now. In the last 10 days, observers have reported over 400 avalanches as the snowpack has passed a tipping point. An avalanche warning has been issued by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center for the northern Front Range Mountains, including Cameron Pass and the Park Range. Of those 400 reported avalanches, 137 were large […] Avalanche AvyBrains | December 13, 2022 2 Comments