CAIC

Avalanche Details

Location: The Nose, Middle Fork Mineral Creek southeast of Ophir
State: Colorado
Date: 2021/02/01
Time: 12:00 AM (Estimated)
Summary Description: 4 backcountry skiers caught and buried, 3 killed
Primary Activity: Backcountry Tourer
Primary Travel Mode: Ski

Number

Caught: 0
Fully Buried: 4
Injured: 0
Killed: 3

Avalanche

Type: --
Trigger: AS - Skier
Trigger (subcode): u - An unintentional release
Size - Relative to Path: --
Size - Destructive Force: --
Sliding Surface: G - At Ground/Ice/Firm

Site

Slope Aspect: NE
Site Elevation: 11500 ft
Slope Angle: --
Slope Characteristic: --

Accident Summary

Preliminary Report: On February 1, 2021, a group of backcountry skiers triggered a large avalanche between the towns of Silverton and Ophir. They were traveling near an area locally known as The Nose. There were seven skiers in the group. Four people were caught, carried, and fully buried in the debris. The group recovered one person with minor injuries. The avalanche released on a northeast-facing slope around 11,500 feet in elevation (near treeline). Extensive Search and Rescue efforts recovered the victims on February 3.

We will update this report as more information becomes available.

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> An overview of the accident site. The red line marks the general path of the group, down the slope and then down the gully. The blue lines mark the approximate boundaries of the avalanche. The large avalanche on the left caught the group of skiers. The small avalanche on the right released sympathetically. (Image courtesy of Telluride Helitrax) (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/hbbpfi7kmbsi7w3d395mr4ocrpih?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=9ea81e7beca9ecb5568cf475f611b088','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Looking across at the avalanche that caught four skiers on February 1, 2021. Their ski tracks are visible to the right of the avalanche, but where they entered into the gully is obscured by trees. Further to the right you can see a second, smaller avalanche, that released sympathetically to the first. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/gua6x2j3mbgimrcv9n150k6g1h56?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=21d06e2052722c548a7cf9cebc7268ee','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> A Google Earth image of the avalanche accident area. The blue oval marks the approximate location of the avalanche. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/r8480m6ae4p64s5tzrp2m3qumqag?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=b19934940f08d84e04006a86074974dd','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> A Caltop image of the area between the towns of Silverton and Ophir. The blue oval marks the approximate location of area know as The Nose and the avalanche accident site. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/iwcvfmp5wkf4gxs3p7rj3uoz38rl?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=b0b27bb4b0a82b0a298f3f43a9f818e8','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)