CAIC

Avalanche Details

Location: South of Vallecito Reservoir
State: Colorado
Date: 2023/02/25
Time: Unknown
Summary Description: 2 skiers caught, buried, and killed
Primary Activity: Backcountry Tourer
Primary Travel Mode: Ski

Number

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

Avalanche

Type: --
Trigger: AS - Skier
Trigger (subcode): u - An unintentional release
Size - Relative to Path: --
Size - Destructive Force: --
Sliding Surface: --

Site

Slope Aspect: NW
Site Elevation: 8400 ft
Slope Angle: 38 °
Slope Characteristic: --

Accident Summary

PRELIMINARY: On February 25, 2023, two backcountry tourers were reported overdue from a trip near Vallecito Reservoir. La Plata County Sheriff's Office began a search. Just before midnight, a Flight For Life helicopter saw an avalanche southeast of the reservoir with tracks entering the avalanche and none exiting. La Plata County Search and Rescue found both skiers buried about four feet deep in avalanche debris.

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, February 26, and we will publish a final report in the next week.

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Site of a fatal avalanche accident near Vallecito Reservoir on February 25, 2023. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/yqdt7cnq2ez0kyp2kaqvjxvxa7d9?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=fc01335b0bbadc9384615eb8a42985a3','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Site of a fatal avalanche accident near Vallecito Reservoir on February 25, 2023. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/8gf86z1c7ajjy6fedfjokgwt33fy?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=2b3c03482513be2da88277c8edd69ea3','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Site of a fatal avalanche accident near Vallecito Reservoir on February 25, 2023. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/7ouckhx74yj7y7x2t2zv0743pua8?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=71a5a66a1490b1aceb903b2128cdcfea','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> Looking at the crown face and the bed surface of an avalanche that killed two backcountry skiers on February 25, 2023. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/4voncylifbvgh9ict0lc4vmyc29j?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=34f8d8f19302e57b55d0e9afde5295f1','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 5:</b> Looking across the deepest section of the crown face of an avalanche that killed two backcountry skiers near Vallecito Reservoir on February 25, 2023. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/x5q8qwypajft356zjn30hobero5x?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=af1d7e3403433858ae267ab081b32706','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)