CAIC

Avalanche Details

Location: Maroon Bowl, north of Highland Peak
State: Colorado
Date: 2023/03/19
Time: 12:00 AM
Summary Description: 1 sidecountry rider caught, buried, and killed
Primary Activity: Sidecountry Rider
Primary Travel Mode: Ski

Number

Caught: 0
Fully Buried: 1
Injured: 0
Killed: 1

Avalanche

Type: HS
Trigger: AS - Skier
Trigger (subcode): u - An unintentional release
Size - Relative to Path: R2
Size - Destructive Force: D3
Sliding Surface: G - At Ground/Ice/Firm

Site

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

Accident Summary

PRELIMINARY: A sidecountry skier triggered and was buried and killed in a large avalanche in Maroon Bowl outside of the Aspen Highlands Ski Area on March 19, 2023. Maroon Bowl is a steep northwest-facing slope in the near treeline elevation band. The avalanche broke about 200 feet wide and ran about 2,000 vertical feet.

The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office, Mountain Rescue Aspen, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC), and the Aspen Highlands Ski Patrol were all involved in the rescue.

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 Monday, March 20, and we will publish a final report in the next week.

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> A large avalanche that killed a sidecountry skier in Maroon Bowl on March 19, 2023 (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/yk43vlld2cwgpor16byml2d9s0hx?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=57dc205813e11c7dc1c83cbfa6fc80eb','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 crown face of a large avalanche that caught and killed a skier on March 19, 2023. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/h4zyzlke7ln0f9lxt65x8qfixlmh?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=bd8e4da086ce6c7898f9bb681602a28f','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 the avalanche path at the runout and debris field from a large avalanche that killed a sidecountry skier in Maroon Bowl on March 19, 2023. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/i33nx2j141r42box3jc295i7ngpk?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=231c620e832fae1c64624db284dbbca2','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)