Early-season avalanches are prevalent right now. One skier was rescued from the backcountry in Colorado on December 3, after they were injured in a slide.
The Grand County Search and Rescue team announced that around 3:15 p.m., they responded to Berthoud Pass. The backcountry zone is located about 11 miles from Winter Park Resort.
The skier was caught in the avalanche, and managed to dig themselves out of the snow, but sustained significant injuries that prevented them from skiing out of the forest, search and rescue said in a Facebook post.
Rescue workers were able to find the skier using the GPS from their cell phone. The skier was treated for several injuries, including hypothermia, and was transported back to Highway 40 using a rescue toboggan and rope uphaul system.
“GCSAR encourages all backcountry adventurers to prioritize safety and preparedness,” the post says. “Essential gear, such as a rescue beacon, shovel, and probe, are crucial for self-rescue in avalanche situations. Additionally, it's imperative to have the skills and knowledge to use this equipment effectively.”
As of Friday, avalanche risk was moderate at Berthoud’s Pass. Those with the intention of heading out into the backcountry should evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, and identify features of concern.
Photo: Grand County Search And Rescue
“Our subject today was very lucky,” GCSAR said on Facebook. “He sustained some serious injuries and was evacuated by toboggan. All crew were out of the field by 7 pm. A full report will be forthcoming, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center will be investigating the accident.”
A 44-year-old man from Lakewood, Colorado was killed on Berthoud Pass on December 26, 2022. The man was touring with his three teenage sons. The slide buried the man and one son entirely, while one son was only partially buried, and another escaped the avalanche mid-slide. Before that, the last avalanche was exactly two years earlier, to the day. That was the first avalanche death at Berthoud Pass in nine years.
At the end of November, Steamboat Springs Resort experienced the largest in-bounds avalanche in the history of the resort. A report from Matt Hartsel of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center states that there were no known witnesses to the slide, and it is believed that the avalanche was triggered naturally.
A video of a snowboarder riding through a small avalanche on Mt. Washington’s Tuckerman Ravine in New Hampshire also was released earlier this month. The incident took place on 'Chicken Rock Gully' on November 29, 2024.
Related: Largest In-Bounds Avalanche in Steamboat's History Sparks Warnings