Solo skier caught and buried in fatal avalanche, Colorado authorities say

A backcountry avalanche caught and buried a 31-year-old skier on Bald Mountain, killing him, Colorado authorities reported.

The man’s girlfriend notified 911 on Saturday, April 29, when he failed to return from a solo ski trip on the mountain near Breckenridge, the Summit County Rescue Group said in a news release.

An aerial search discovered the avalanche just before dark but did not spot ski tracks, the release said. Two rescuers skied to the area and detected a transceiver.

They found the skier’s body buried about 21 inches deep, rescuers said. A rescue team brought his body out by toboggan early Sunday, April 30.

The avalanche began at about 13,200 feet on the east slope of Bald Mountain, running about 1,300 feet, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center said.

Breckenridge is a town of 5,000 people about 80 miles southwest of Denver.

What to know about avalanches

Avalanches happen quickly and catch people by surprise. They can move between 60 and 80 mph and typically happen on slopes of 30-45 degrees, according to experts.

Skiers, snowmobilers and hikers can set off an avalanche when a layer of snow collapses and starts to slide down the slope.

In the U.S., avalanches are most common from December to April, but they can happen at any time if the conditions are right, National Geographic reported.

At least 24 people in the U.S. have died in avalanches this season as of Monday, May 1, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

People heading into snow should always check the local avalanche forecast at Avalanche.org, officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, and have an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel ready.

“Emergency services are usually too far away from the scene of an avalanche, and time is important,” Simon Trautman, a national avalanche specialist, said. “A person trapped under the snow may not have more than 20 or 30 minutes. So, in a backcountry scenario, you are your own rescue party.”

If an avalanche breaks out, it’s best to move diagonal to the avalanche to an edge, Trautman said.

“Try to orient your feet downhill so that your lower body, not your head, takes most of the impact,” officials said. “You may also get into a tight ball as another way to protect your head.”

This story was originally published May 1, 2023 at 8:43 AM with the headline "Solo skier caught and buried in fatal avalanche, Colorado authorities say."