CAIC: Colorado Avalanche Information Center BC Zone Observation Report

Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at 12:00 AM
Aspen

Details

CAIC Comments

From a phone conversation with the injured victim. A party of 3 snowboarders had been filming higher in the bowl, where there found 10" or so of light new snow. They rode down the ridge and entered a slope where the snow felt heavier - maybe a little windloaded. They rode this slope at the same time. About 300 vertical feet below the ridge and just below a big tree that was near a convexity, the slope avalanched. It broke above them and all three were caught and carried several hundred feet down the slope. The debris did not reach the main runout. Rider 1 was partially buried, Rider 2 was buried to his waist, and Rider 3 was pinned against a tree and covered with snow. He as able to move one hand and break an opening to the surface. He may have been able to clear some snow from his face. His companions told him he was turning blue when they got to him. He was later found to have a broken rib and strained back. The party self-evacuated from there, which involved sideslipping, crawling on all fours, and pushing the injured victim while he lay on his board. At the snow-covered Maroon Creek road, Rider 1 went for help at the T Lazy Seven Ranch. While Riders 1 and 2 were waiting, they were charged by a moose. Three times. With help from the ranch, the party made it to their vehicle and drove themselves to Aspen Valley Hospital. The accident site is roughly 0.1 miles and 200 vertical feet higher than a similar incident on 1/31 (Dark Hollow).

Location

Avalanches

  Date Location/Path # Elev Asp Type Trig SizeR SizeD
View  2017/02/13  †  Maroon Creek   1   TL   N   SS   AR / u   R2   D2