CAIC

Avalanche Details

Location: Gibbs Creek, near Wolf Creek Pass
State: Colorado
Date: 2012/02/16
Time: 12:00 AM (Estimated)
Summary Description: 3 skiers caught, 1 injured, and 1 killed
Primary Activity: Backcountry Tourer
Primary Travel Mode: Ski

Number

Caught: 2
Fully Buried: 1
Injured: 1
Killed: 1

Avalanche

Type: --
Trigger: --
Trigger (subcode): --
Size - Relative to Path: --
Size - Destructive Force: --
Sliding Surface: --

Site

Slope Aspect: W
Site Elevation: 11200 ft
Slope Angle: 40 °
Slope Characteristic: --

Accident Summary

Three backcountry skiers we caught in an avalanche near Wolf Creek Pass. The avalanche released on a west facing slope near treeline. The slide was 3 feet deep, 600 feet wide, and ran 600 feet vertically. One skier was uninjured. The second was injured and required evacuation. The third was killed in the accident. A CAIC forecaster was at the site on the afternoon of the accident. We will post more information as it becomes available.

This was the 6th death in an avalanche in Colorado during the 2011-2012 season. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the survivors and friends and family of the deceased.

Durango Herald

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Looking up at the face of the avalanche crown. Entering ski tracks visible. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/txei43sqgt29gi2kqsjtfq9vggzx?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=3e403619235c0a4efb10fcb565cc4300','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Looking down from mid path at the track. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/5zt4dmu8h2wrdr42bct8uiaaf2ag?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=b779081f996c741e56be8dc49b2128b5','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Looking down at the track from just above the supposed trigger point. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/8u23z2390bn0tjyplqc32fojmkct?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=e1d2c87e964c422e857492fb35b2c938','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> A view of the accident site from across the valley. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/ncssprnqudtzkfi5rrcroji8gxws?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=a47bcf6b0fc5694aa328e257cdd88e12','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)