A skier was partially buried in an avalanche on Mount Bross in Colorado on Sunday, October 25, after triggering a large wind slab on a high-elevation slope. The skier’s head was buried beneath the snow, but a quick response from their partners led to a successful rescue in approximately five minutes.
According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), the avalanche occurred on an east-facing slope above 14,000 feet. The group was able to rescue the skier and evacuate the area on their own.
Early-Season Snow Creates Dangerous Conditions
The CAIC explained that recent wind-drifted snow had formed stiff, potentially unstable slabs on high-elevation alpine slopes. Although these deposits can make rocky terrain look more appealing by covering shallow obstacles, they can also create dangerous conditions for backcountry travelers.
The slabs are now large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. With a thin early-season snowpack, even a relatively small slide can knock someone off their feet and carry them into exposed rocks, downed logs, or over a cliff.
The agency is urging backcountry users to avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees where recent snow has been deposited by wind. Skiers should also watch for cracking in the snowpack, which can indicate the formation of an unstable slab.
Colorado Avalanche Forecasts Resume November 1
The close call on Mount Bross highlights the importance of assessing avalanche conditions before heading into the backcountry, even when snow coverage remains limited.
Daily backcountry avalanche forecasts from the CAIC are scheduled to resume on November 1. The agency will provide additional updates as conditions warrant.
Backcountry skiers and other mountain users can check the latest statewide avalanche information and conditions before heading out at colorado.gov/avalanche.