Solo Skier Survives Being Carried and Partially Buried in Avalanche Near Aspen, CO A solo backcountry skier narrowly escaped serious injury after triggering a wet slab avalanche on June 1 in the Fourth of July Bowl area of Independence Pass, near Aspen, Colorado. The skier was swept 400 vertical feet downhill and became partially buried, with his head and one arm above the snow, according to a report on the Colorado Avalanche Information […] Avalanche AvyBrains | June 4, 2025 0 Comments
30th Annual “Ride for the Pass” Bike Race This Saturday, May 18, at Aspen, CO The 30th annual “Ride for the Pass” bike race will be held in Aspen, Colorado, this Saturday, May 18. The race is organized each year by the Independence Pass Foundation which was founded in 1989 and is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. There are two options for the race, a competitive timed one and a fun, recreational shorter course. […] SnowBrains | May 15, 2024 0 Comments
12,095′ Independence Pass, CO, Closed For the Season After Snow Buries the Road There’s now only one way for motorists to get in and out of Aspen until late May. The Colorado Department of Transportation announced yesterday it had closed the Independence Pass winter gates on Highway 82 between Aspen and Twin Lakes for the season after a foot of snow blanketed the scenic bypass over the weekend. Related: 12,183′ Trail Ridge Road in […] SnowBrains | October 31, 2023 0 Comments
12,095′ Independence Pass, CO, Will Open for the Summer on Thursday May 27th Hwy-82, Independence Pass, in Colorado, will open for the summer as scheduled at noon on Thursday, May 27th, a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) spokeswoman said yesterday. Crews have been working hard on the 12,095-foot pass to clear snow, rockfall, and avalanche debris. Independence Pass crosses the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet above sea level and connects Aspen and Twin […] SnowBrains | May 25, 2021 0 Comments
VIDEO: Skier Triggered and Caught in Avalanche Near Independence Pass, CO on November 9, 2020 [arve url="https://youtu.be/ixEBRI2RQVE"] AvyBrains | November 10, 2020 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
Trip Report: Independence Pass, CO – Couloir Skiing on the Last Day of Summer The fall equinox was today (September 22, 2020), marking the official end of summer. What better way to send off summer than with a great day of couloir shredding in the high country? Two weeks ago, a late summer storm brought the Rocky Mountains up to two feet of snow in some places. The wind-loaded chutes and gullies with up to four […] Trip Report Clay Malott | September 23, 2020 0 Comments
Couple Trapped in Vehicle Overnight After Driving Off Independence Pass, Near Aspen, CO At approximately 11:20 a.m. on Friday, August 21, 2020, the Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center was notified by the Colorado State Patrol of an unknown injury accident in the area of mile marker 61 on Colorado State Highway 82. Mile marker 61 is the summit of Independence Pass and is also roughly the boundary between Pitkin and Lake County. […] SnowBrains | August 24, 2020 0 Comments
Trip Report: June Powder on East Geissler Peak, CO [arve url="https://vimeo.com/432210248"] Clay Malott | June 26, 2020 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
UPDATE: Snowmobiler Broke Both His Legs in Independence Pass, CO Avalanche Earlier This Month Two snowmobilers triggered an avalanche near Independence Pass in Colorado on April 7, that caught, carried, and injured one of them. Additional information from the CAIC has just been released, detailing the extent of the snowmobiler’s injuries. The organization said in a Facebook post: On April 7, a snowmobiler triggered and was caught in an avalanche south of Independence Pass. […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 15, 2020 0 Comments
Snowmobilers Trigger Avalanche Near Independence Pass, CO: 1 Caught, Carried, and Injured The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is reporting that two snowmobilers triggered an avalanche near Independence Pass in Colorado yesterday evening, April 7. One snowmobiler was caught, carried, and injured in the slide. Below is the preliminary report by the CAIC: Two snowmobilers were riding in the Mountain Boy Gulch area near Independence Pass. Riders 1 and 2 rode several times […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 8, 2020 0 Comments
VIDEO: Recent Avalanche on Independence Pass, CO Colorado avalanche mitigation officials are getting the first reports of avalanches in the high country. A natural avalanche occurred on Independence Pass on Wednesday, October 23rd. Over a foot of snow has fallen since last week in Colorado and more is on the way, making snow conditions increasingly dangerous throughout the state. Avalanche SnowBrains | October 28, 2019 0 Comments
Independence Pass Near Aspen, CO Expected to Open on Friday | Latest Opening in Over 10-Years Independence Pass near Aspen, CO is expected to open Friday evening, a Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman said yesterday, for the latest opening in over 10-years. CDOT generally attempts to have the pass open on the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, but due to high snowpack and avalanche debris left over from the winter season, crews had more work to do […] SnowBrains | May 30, 2019 0 Comments
Opening of Independence Pass, CO Will Now be Delayed Into June The annual spring opening of Independence Pass is likely to be delayed into the first week of June, which would be more than a week later than normal, reports the Aspen Daily News. “I am guessing we are into the first week of June to get the pass opened,” Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Tracy Trulove said Tuesday. ”Our guys […] Weather WeatherBrains | May 16, 2019 0 Comments
Natural Avalanche that Destroyed Guard Rail May Delay Opening of Independence Pass, Aspen, CO While clearing the 12,095-foot Independence Pass, Colorado Department of Transport (CDOT) crews discovered that a natural avalanche has destroyed a 300-foot stretch of the guardrail, potentially delaying the opening of the pass for the first time in 5-years. Related: CDOT Launched 1,500 Avalanche Ordinances this Winter – 22 Failed to Explode and May Be a Threat to Hikers The pass, closed […] Avalanche AvyBrains | April 26, 2019 1 Comment
Weekend Storm Means Independence Pass, CO at 12,095-Feet Now Closed Until May 2019 There’s now only one way for motorists to get in and out of Aspen until late May. The Colorado Department of Transportation announced yesterday it has closed the Independence Pass winter gates on Highway 82 between Aspen and Twin Lakes for the season after a foot of snow blanketed the scenic bypass over the weekend, reports the Aspen Times. CDOT closed […] Conditions Report SnowBrains | November 6, 2018 0 Comments
Large Avalanches Close Independence Pass & Loveland Pass in Colorado Yesterday afternoon, a large avalanche came down onto Loveland Pass and closed both lanes. Loveland Pass reopened late last night. At least one car was trapped in the snow. Last Thursday, a large avalanche ran onto Highway 82 on the Leadville side of Independence Pass closing the road in both directions for 90 minutes. No vehicles were caught in the slide. You’d think that by the end of May, avalanche closing roads in Colorado would be a thing of the past. Not this year. Above […] Avalanche SnowBrains | June 1, 2015 0 Comments
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