An avalanche on Friday resulted in the first avalanche-related fatality of the season within the United States. The slide occurred in the Anthracite Range, west of Crested Butte.
Accident Summary From CAIC
A solo skier (Skier 1) was buried and killed in an avalanche on the northeast end of the Anthracite Range, in an area locally referred to as Friendly Finish. On the ridge prior to descending, Skier 1 spoke with another group of two skiers (Skiers 2 and 3) about their respective descent plans.
Skiers 2 and 3 completed their descent and returned to their parked snowmobile, only to find Skier 1’s snowmobile still parked without any sign of Skier 1. Skier 2 and 3 snowmobiled to a place where they could get a view of Skier 1’s planned descent route and they saw a fresh avalanche. They skied up to the scene of the avalanche, and located Skier 1 with a transceiver search. They extricated Skier 1, but he tragically did not survive the event. Local volunteers and Crested Butte Search and Rescue facilitated the recovery and extrication.
Our sincere condolences to all the friends and family of the victim.