CAIC

Avalanche Details

Location: Pumphouse Lake, southwest of Rollins Pass
State: Colorado
Date: 2023/01/07
Time: 12:00 AM (Estimated)
Summary Description: 2 snowmobilers caught, 2 buried and killed
Primary Activity: Snowmobiler
Primary Travel Mode: Snowmobile

Number

Caught: 0
Fully Buried: 2
Injured: 0
Killed: 2

Avalanche

Type: SS
Trigger: AM - Snowmobile
Trigger (subcode): u - An unintentional release
Size - Relative to Path: R2
Size - Destructive Force: D2
Sliding Surface: G - At Ground/Ice/Firm

Site

Slope Aspect: E
Site Elevation: 11600 ft
Slope Angle: 35 °
Slope Characteristic: --

Accident Summary

PRELIMINARY: On January 7, 2023, at around 2:00 PM, two snowmobilers were caught, buried, and killed in a large avalanche on the east face of Mount Epworth, about 6 miles east of Winter Park. Another group in the area was able to locate one of the riders with a transceiver. They performed CPR, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The second rider was not wearing an avalanche transceiver. Grand County Sheriff's Deputies and Grand County search and rescue were unable to locate the second rider before dark. They will continue the search on Sunday.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the people involved in this tragic accident. CAIC staff will visit the accident site on Sunday, January 8, and we will publish a final report in the next week.

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> A map of the Rollins Pass area. The accident site is marked by the red box. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/dldxedvq1rb114oupvflfpcyd88k?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=0a3594d47021a3b59cd50105b369adb6','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Looking at the east and southeast faces of Mount Epworth. The avalanche on the right, above Pumphouse Lake, is the one that killed the two riders on January 7. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/ht113xovmivkiiaswyflgd7wb6c0?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=2a13342a18db2c1c477a93c3f583e959','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Looking at the east face of Mount Epworth. This is a large avalanche that broken near the ground. The debris from the slide ran onto Pumphouse Lake. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/cnogq7ef9z707u1uqs3ijtd327kx?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=dd520139c007cfd1323b465304e5b612','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)