On January 10, 2025, a group of three skiers cut the upper chute area at Haiyaha Couloir in Rocky Mountain National Park and triggered a wind slab avalanche. One skier entered the area, and the avalanche fractured above him with a 9–14-inch crown. The skier was caught, carried, and briefly buried in the avalanche. The […]
Blog
Avalanche notifications result in immediate action, even if a call comes in with no information on whether an individual is buried or injured. Urgency is critical for survival from an avalanche burial, and first responders act as quickly as possible to take all measures in order to save a life. The first step in an […]
An investigation is ongoing after a skier was found unresponsive at Keystone Ski Area on January 7, 2026. Around noon, a group of skiers found the 59-year-old male guest on “The Grizz,” an advanced “black” rated run in Keystone’s backcountry area. The group of called for help and performed CPR on the man. When ski […]
A snowboarder was caught, carried and partially buried in an avalanche on January 9, 2026, in East Vail. The snowboarder was pinned against a tree and unable to self-extricate. Fortunately, the snowboarder’s partner skinned up to the burial location to assist. The snowboarder suffered only minor injuries. An Instagram post from the Friends of Colorado […]
Preparation and a plan for a backcountry emergency is always a smart idea. The first step is to ensure that you prepare so an emergency does not occur. You should check the weather and avalanche forecasts, tell someone where you are going and when you will be back, avoid travelling alone, especially on more technical […]
Whether it is the lack of fresh powder or the traffic on I-70, skiers and snowboarders seem to be more hostile on the slopes than in year’s past. Most recently, an on-slope collision at Keystone resulted in assault allegations against one of the parties. After two skiers collided on a run at Keystone skier, the […]
