2 skiers killed by avalanchenear Aspen.

Two skiers killed by avalanche

written by: Jeffrey Wolf , Web Producer created: 3/13/2007 7:30:26 PM
Last updated: 3/13/2007 8:35:43 PM

ASPEN - The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office says an avalanche killed two cross country skiers Tuesday afternoon.

The two victims were among three men who were cross country skiing five miles southeast of Aspen. The men were in an area where cross-country skiers and snowmobilers usually go, but it was not an official resort.

The avalanche buried the skiers around 2:15 p.m.

One of the skiers was covered in 8 feet of snow.

Nineteen rescue workers took snowmobiles back to the avalanche and Flight for Life transported the dead skiers to the Aspen Valley Hospital where they're bodies were then turned over to the Pitkin County Coroner's Office.

The surviving skier refused medical treatment.

The Pitkin County Coroner's Office will determine the exact cause of death.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center maintains a map that details how high the avalanche danger is around the state.

My condolences to the families. Our field director(a member of Mtn Rescue here) was racing out the door this afternoon to get up there. I guess it was somehwere near Shimer(Sunshine) Peak up towards Independence Pass he thought.

I heard about this on the news. Such a bummer! My condolences to the families for sure :( I'd also like to know more details about the avy. My impression is that things are pretty unsafe in the Elks and mtns near Aspen right now, is that the case Joey Joe?

The danger hasn't been super high here but with the temps the way they are wet slides in the afternoon are becoming more of a possibility each day. This afternoon while playing with my dog in the backyard(which hasn't seen any traffic/compaction this winter cause technically it is our neighbors) the snow was settling and cracking, and my dog only weighs 50lbs.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=66327

Anyone know anything else?????? I know Jason, and he is the survivor, so I'm trying to figure out who the other victims were :(

Any ideas on the aspect? N or NE maybe?

From the picture I saw this morning the aspect was more N-NW and it was huge, easily class 4/5. They triggered it as they were skinning up through the trees and had just broke out onto a more open slope it seems and were carried back down through a heavily forested gully. The two gullys immediately to climbers left didn't go but the large open face farther left of them did tear out. This is all second hand from Mtn Rescue people I work with so take it for what it is worth. I would imagine the CAIC report will have better details. I don't know the names of the two victims.

Thanks Joey Joe.... If you hear more let me know!

Regarding the victims - apparently one was from New York City and one from Buenos Aries, Argentina.

Condolences...

here is a link to the picture I saw this morning and better detailshttp://www.wildsnow.com/

Thanks Joey Joe. That's a freaking HUGE avalanche! My god.

Yeah, they actually saw the first big one and then got caught in the smaller one, strangely enough the stuff in between the two avis didn't slide.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo

strangely enough the stuff in between the two avis didn't slide.

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Why is that strange? The two slides share similar aspects, the ridge in between is facing a very different one. These are slab avalanches right? Very loading dependent.

http://avalanche.state.co.us/NR/rdon...0/messina1.jpg

http://avalanche.state.co.us/NR/rdon.../Driskell1.jpg

names released yet?

http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...ONT01/70314047

My condolences to all involved.

More info posted on the CAIC

http://avalanche.state.co.us/Acciden...n/20070313.htm

My condolences to all involved

Just got an email from friends and neighbors in Greenwater that they knew Simon.

RIP

sorry about you loss :frown:

RIP Alexi and Simon :(

My deepest condolences go out to all their families and friends, and my deepest heart felt concern goes out to Jason. If there is anything I can do, I'm here for ya.