San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office confirms a backcountry skier was killed in a snowboarder-released avalanche in the Bear Creek Preserve area in Telluride. The search for 47 year old Salvadore Garcia-Atance began on Tuesday with the help of avalanche dogs and resumed on Wednesday.
FOX21 reports more than two dozen search and rescue crews, two Telluride Ski Patrol avalanche dog teams and Telluride Helitrax all joined in the coordinated effort to recovery the body. Garcia-Atance was found yesterday near the creek above the boulder at the top of Bear Creek at about 11:30 a.m.
“Of course this is not the outcome any of us were hoping for and on behalf of myself and all of us involved in this mission, we extend our sincerest condolences to Mr. Garcia-Atance’s family.” San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters 
Garcia-Atance was skinning up Bear Creek Trail when the slide hit between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tuesday. The slide ran about 75 wide and left a debris field 300 feet long by 15 to 20 feet deep.
Bear Creek Trail has reopened but remains a dangerous zone and authorities are asking people stay away:
“Whether you are walking your dog, skinning up or backcountry skiing, Bear Creek is not a safe place to be.”
More than two dozen SAR rescuers & 2 Telluride Ski Patrol Avalanche dog teams in Bear Creek area searching for missing backcountry skier. Telluride Helitrax is conducting an air search as well. Reminder to stay out of Bear Creek; it is closed until further notice. #SARBearCreek pic.twitter.com/kvPe5phnfY
— San Miguel Sheriff (@SheriffAlert) February 20, 2019
Search and Rescue & Telluride Ski Patrol found the missing backcountry skier late this morning in the Bear Creek area. He was killed in a snowboarder-released avalanche triggered from above. Click for news release: https://t.co/ZTQRK8KBoq #SARBearCreek pic.twitter.com/rDyFOQQe6g
— San Miguel Sheriff (@SheriffAlert) February 20, 2019
images from San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office Twitter