CAIC: Looking across at the avalanche that caught four skiers on February 1, 2021. Their ski tracks are visible to the right of the avalanche, but where they entered into the gully is obscured by trees. Further to the right you can see a second, smaller avalanche, that released sympathetically to the first.

The CAIC is reporting that an avalanche buried 4 skiers on Monday, February 1, 2021 between the towns of Silverton and Ophir, CO.

Search and rescue teams have recovered one person with minor injuries, but 3 people have yet to be found. Rescuers were forced to temporarily stop the search citing extreme avalanche danger.

CAIC: An overview of the accident site. The red line marks the general path of the group, down the slope and then down the gully. The blue lines mark the approximate boundaries of the avalanche. The large avalanche on the left caught the group of skiers. The small avalanche on the right released sympathetically. (Image courtesy of Telluride Helitrax)

Read the full Accident Summary from the CAIC:

Preliminary Report: On February 1, 2021, a group of backcountry skiers triggered a large avalanche between the towns of Silverton and Ophir. They were traveling near an area locally known as The Nose. There were seven skiers in the group. Four people were caught, carried, and fully buried in the debris. The group recovered one person with minor injuries. The other three people are still missing. Search and rescue operations lasted into the night, continued on February 2, and were suspended on the evening of February 2 due to avalanche hazard. Efforts will resume when rescuers feel it is save to access the site. The avalanche released on a northeast-facing slope around 11,500 feet in elevation (near treeline). 

We will update this report as more information becomes available.

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