While there have been no deaths in the state of Colorado this winter, separate avalanches claimed the lives of 3 skiers in Alps last week and 2 skiers in California just three days ago. Both areas recently received large amounts of snow with serious avalanche warnings in effect.
The wind slab that killed Mikaela Scherrer in Verbier. Photo: Swiss Police
While the 3 deaths in Europe took place off-piste, the two deaths in the Lake Tahoe, CA area took place in-bounds. A snowboarder, Steven Anderson, 49, had been reported missing at Donner Ski Ranch the morning of December 24 and found a few hours later. At Alpine Meadows that same day, a ski patroller, Bill Foster, 53, was swept away in an intentionally-triggered slide. He was thought to be in a “safe zone” while using explosives, the slide broke higher and wider than expected, and he was uncovered within 8 minutes. He died later at the hospital.
The three deaths in Europe took place separately at Val d’Isere, France, Verbier, Switzerland, and the Austrian Tirol. In the Val d’Isere incident last Friday, a 76 year-old man was caught off-piste skiing with a guide and his wife. On December 19th in Verbier, a 23 year-old Swedish freeskier, Mikaela Scherrer, was caught in a slide on a popular side-country run and died later at the hospital. She had been buried just under 6 ft. of snow even though she had deployed an airbag.
A skier-triggered slide from December 16 in the Anthracites. Photo: Matt Berglund
Our snowpack here in the Elks and West Elks isn’t that much better. We are starting to see the persistent slab problem become harder to trigger, but it will be very destructive if it goes. You will have a lot of fun out there, but pay attention to the signs! Be aware of your surroundings and travel smart in the backcountry. Read the CB Avalanche Center forecast every day; Wearing a beacon in-bounds on a pow day is a great idea as well. The fun you have can hide the dangers that surround you!
More information on the Tahoe slides can be found here. Info on the European slides here.
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