CAIC

Avalanche Details

Location: Lime Creek south of Edwards
State: Colorado
Date: 2021/03/22
Time: 12:00 AM (Estimated)
Summary Description: 1 sidecountry skier caught and killed
Primary Activity: Sidecountry Rider
Primary Travel Mode: Ski

Number

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

Avalanche

Type: --
Trigger: AS - Skier
Trigger (subcode): u - An unintentional release
Size - Relative to Path: R1
Size - Destructive Force: D2
Sliding Surface: --

Site

Slope Aspect: NW
Site Elevation: 10500 ft
Slope Angle: 45 °
Slope Characteristic: Planar Slope,Gully/Couloir

Accident Summary

On Monday, March 22, 2021, a skier was caught, buried, and killed in an avalanche in the backcountry near Beaver Creek Ski Area. The skier triggered the avalanche on a very steep rock slab. He was carried over 1,000 feet down a steep rocky chute and was completely buried 1 to 2 feet deep. His partner was able to uncover him quickly, but the skier did not survive. The accident occurred in a steep, northwest-facing chute below treeline, at an elevation of around 10,500 feet. The avalanche was several feet deep and broke in a weak layer near the ground. Our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the victim.

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Image of the accident site take before the avalanche on Saturday, March 20, 2021 (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/1n3tfst69ofl3gzzah150csyz6gk?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=f9db86f569f6d07a15a03b840921b2d3','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Satellite imagery showing the rock slab, and how steep the terrain is in the accident site. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/zyspjorhwt0x7pn7lz408vznr4w9?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=6ea39da9d14f22b7e83fcdc5495eeeef','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Image of the accident site taken after the avalanche on Monday, March 22, 2021. The skier was swept through that steep rocky area in the center of the image and was buried close to where rescue team members are standing. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/uni0hb8loogwhnxqztzny5t53z1v?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=59549b2c7e3edfd6972f71c8e76c0922','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> Image of the accident site taken after the accident on Monday, March 22, 2021. The skier triggered the avalanche in the upper bowl and was swept through the chute and buried near where rescue team members are standing in the center of the image. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/k8m3vxp01xmhockfm3n91d7pjovp?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=63c8650c7b90fc37beaba238ab016591','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 5:</b> The skier was swept down through this steep rocky area in the center of the chute. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/unj6ql54e7xs4dagjlbelzjpky5c?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=f56d8c6c33c8c0a820997c1b958fcc0f','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)