Bodies of 3 skiers found buried by large Colorado avalanche
by The Associated Press
Last Updated Feb 4, 2021 at 10:58 am EDT
The bodies of three backcountry skiers buried in a large avalanche in southwestern Colorado were found Wednesday under more than 20 feet (6 metres) of avalanche debris, officials said.
The bodies of the skiers, located with the help of their avalanche beacons, had to be left at the site between the towns of Silverton and Ophir because bad weather prevented a helicopter from retrieving them from the rugged terrain, the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management said.
The slide happened Monday in an area locally known as The Nose, and the continuing avalanche danger in the area had hampered searchers’ efforts to find the skiers. A fourth skier was found by rescuers and suffered only minor injuries.
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February 3, 2021
Three backcountry skiers in Colorado were missing and feared dead after the group they were traveling with triggered a large avalanche Monday, burying four members of the group in debris, officials said Tuesday.
The avalanche occurred Monday afternoon in an area known locally as The Nose, situated between the towns of Silverton and Ophir, according to an initial report of the episode from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
DeAnne Gallegos, a spokeswoman for the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management, said that a search for the missing skiers had taken place Monday and Tuesday but was suspended Tuesday evening because conditions in the area were “so unstable and so dangerous.” She said the search would resume Wednesday morning, “weather permitting.”
Three Skiers Found Dead After Avalanche in Colorado, Officials Say
The skiers were found Wednesday under more than 20 feet of avalanche debris, the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management said.
This illustration provided by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center shows, circled in blue, the area between the towns of Silverton and Ophir where the avalanche occurred.Credit.Colorado Avalanche Information Center
Published Feb. 2, 2021Updated Feb. 18, 2021
Three backcountry skiers in southwestern Colorado were found dead on Wednesday, two days after the group they were traveling with triggered a large avalanche, officials said.
The skiers’ bodies were located under more than 20 feet of avalanche debris, but were not removed from the area because of hazardous conditions, the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management said.