Tragic news out of Colorado where two backcountry snowmobilers where killed in an avalanche near Winter Park. The Colorado Sun reports the Grand County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the slide on Corona Pass, in the area of Mount Epworth and Pumphouse Lake, at about 2:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Responders found a 58-year-old man from northern Colorado who died after efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) reports the man was wearing an avalanche transceiver. Responders were unable to locate the second buried male victim and were forced to call off the search due to weather and safety concerns.
The second snowmobiler, a 52-year-old who also lived in northern Colorado, was found Sunday at about 11 a.m. The identities of the two men have not yet been made public.
“Unfortunately, this is the second fatal avalanche that we have experienced this season in Grand County. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims. We encourage those recreating in our backcountry to regularly monitor the conditions and follow the advice of our avalanche professionals at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.” –Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin
The avalanche on Saturday was the third fatal avalanche in Colorado in the 2022-23 winter season. All of the fatal slides have happened in the past two weeks.
Press Release from the Grand County Sheriff
Emergency responders with the assistance of citizens in the area, were able to recover one of the individuals, who was identified as a 58-year-old male from Northern Colorado. Despite emergency resuscitation efforts, this victim was pronounced deceased on scene and has been transferred to the Grand County Coroner’s Office. Responders were unable to locate the second buried male victim and were forced to retreat from the area due to weather and safety concerns.
Search and Rescue teams will be returning to the area early on Sunday, January 8, to continue the recovery efforts. The Sheriff’s Office, Grand County Search and Rescue and the Coroner’s Office have been in contact with the next of kin for both individuals and are providing support. The decedent’s identity and cause and manner of death will be released by the Coroner when appropriate.
Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin shared, “Unfortunately, this is the second fatal avalanche that we have experienced this season in Grand County. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims. We encourage those recreating in our backcountry to regularly monitor the conditions and follow the advice of our avalanche professionals at Colorado Avalanche Information Center – CAIC.”
UPDATED: Jan 8, 2027
Shortly before 11 a.m., the second victim, a 52-year-old male from Northern Colorado, was located, recovered, and subsequently transferred to the Grand County Coroner’s Office. The identity of this decedent and the official cause and manner of death will be released by the Coroner’s Office when appropriate.
The subject was found with a RECCO hit and then probed and dug out. He was near his snowmobile, and buried about 18″ deep.
Those recreating in our backcountry are encouraged to regularly monitor the conditions and follow the advice of our avalanche professionals at Colorado Avalanche Information Center – CAIC
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