Dozens of Avalanches Reported in Colorado’s Mountains
Over the weekend, backcountry explorers observed numerous avalanches in Colorado’s mountain ranges following warnings of increased danger on the state’s slopes.
A total of approximately four dozen explorers witnessed avalanches or their aftermath, with 19 triggering avalanches and two individuals caught in snow and debris waves, according to field reports submitted between Friday and Sunday to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
While some reports documented a single avalanche, others noted up to 32 avalanche sightings in a single report.
One observer who confirmed more than two dozen avalanche sightings described the avalanche cycle as the most destructive and widespread of the season in their report.
The state agency issued a “special advisory” on Friday for heightened avalanche danger across most of Colorado’s mountain ranges, effective until 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
“We anticipate more of the largest avalanches seen this season,” state officials stated in the advisory. “Traveling safely in backcountry areas this weekend will necessitate careful and selective terrain choices. Errors could prove fatal.”
Although the advisory is set to expire on Sunday evening, dangerous avalanche conditions are expected to persist beyond that timeframe, according to the advisory.
As of Sunday afternoon, no avalanche-related injuries or fatalities had been reported, as per the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
On Saturday, a skier and a snowboarder were caught in avalanches in steep, rocky terrain near Bonita Peak in the northern San Juan Mountains. The snowboarder triggered the initial avalanche, while the skier set off a smaller wave from the residual unstable snow after the initial release, according to a report filed with the agency.
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