The Latest: Skier found dead after Colorado avalanche
Posted March 4, 2019 5:28 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
DENVER — The Latest on avalanches in Colorado (all times local):
3:20 p.m.
Authorities say a missing backcountry skier apparently died in a massive avalanche in southwestern Colorado.
The San Miguel Sheriff’s Office says crews working with avalanche dogs found the local man’s body Monday in a slide believed to have occurred the day before near Telluride.
Because the risk of avalanches is high, sheriff’s office spokeswoman Susan Lilly says crews had to wait for helicopters to drop explosives to trigger slides before ground crews could safely go in to search for the man.
Up to 4 feet (1.2 metres) of snow fell in some spot in the last few days.
On Sunday, an avalanche dumped snow across a section of Interstate 70, covering some vehicles in snow. No injuries were reported.
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8:15 a.m.
The avalanche danger in Colorado’s northern and central mountains is high after up to 4 feet (1.2 metres) of snow fell in some spots in the last few days.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says the slide danger likely peaked Sunday but says the danger is still considered high Monday.
On Sunday, an avalanche dumped snow across a section of Interstate 70 between Frisco and Copper Mountain, covering some vehicles in snow. The Colorado Department of Transportation says it was a natural avalanche and not a controlled slide.
Three mountain pass roads in southwestern Colorado — Wolf Creek, Red Mountain and Lizard Head — were temporarily closed Monday morning so crews could trigger avalanches and avoid natural slides.
The Associated Press
