2 dead in Colorado avalanches bringing total number of deaths this season to 9
Gear is available designed to increase survival rates if caught in an avalanche. It’s essential to carry a transceiver and probe that can be used to locate someone who is buried and shovels to dig someone out from under the snow.
2 killed in separate Colorado avalanches
Two people were killed by avalanches in Colorado bringing the total number of deaths this season to 9.
MARBLE, Colo. – One man was killed, and two others were injured when a powerful avalanche was triggered near Chair Mountain in the Marble, Colorado, area of Gunnison County. Another skier was killed, and 2 others narrowly escaped an avalanche near Aspen.
These deaths now brings the total number of people killed by avalanches in Colorado to nine so far this season, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and the Pitikin County Sheriff's Office.
Skiers, snowboarders and hikers are urged to have emergency equipment on hand in case an avalanche is triggered.
(Colorado Avalanche Information Center)
According to the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office, reports of the Marble avalanche were received just before 6 p.m. local time on Friday.
One of the men trapped by the avalanche was able to exit the backcountry and was taken to a hospital for treatment. A second victim needed to be rescued via helicopter, and the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post that the third victim remained missing for some time.
Nine people have now been killed in avalanches in Colorado so far this season.
(Colorado Avalanche Information Center)
The sheriff’s office and various search and rescue groups continued to search for the victim, who was identified as 36-year-old Joel Shute of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Shute’s body was eventually located by a helicopter around 11:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office.
SNOWMOBILER DEATH IS COLORADO'S 7TH AVALANCHE FATALITY SO FAR THIS SEASON
Two people were killed in separate avalanches in Colorado over the weekend.
(Colorado Avalanche Information Center)
On Sunday, a large avalanche occurred in the Maroon Bowl area of Highland Peak, outside near Aspen Highland.
"At this time the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office can confirm a single fatality related to the initial avalanche. Two additional skiers were caught in the slide but we're able to self extricate," the office stated on Facebook. "Responders from Mountain Rescue Aspen are working with Aspen Highlands Ski Patrol to safely access the two other skiers and remove them from the avalanche area."
BURIED ALIVE BY AN AVALANCHE: HOW DOGS COME TO THE RESCUE
It’s been a deadly year for avalanches in Colorado so far this season.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center and Pitkin County Sheriff's Office says that nine people have been killed since December. The victims were identified as skiers, snowboarders and hikers.
1 killed, 2 injured in avalanche near Aspen, Colorado
One man was killed during an avalanche in Gunnison County, Colorado, southwest of the town of Marble, on Friday. Two others were injured and transported for medical treatment. Avalanches have now killed eight people in Colorado this season.
Gear is available designed to increase survival rates if caught in an avalanche. It’s essential to carry a transceiver and probe that can be used to locate someone who is buried and shovels to dig someone out from under the snow.
Avalanche survival rates plummet after about 15 minutes for victims who do not die from trauma received during the avalanche.