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Avalanche Kills Skier On Wolf Creek Pass

PAGOSA SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- A backcountry skier has died in an avalanche on Wolf Creek Pass.

The victim Thursday was a first-year ski patroller at Keystone Ski Resort, about 200 miles away. The resort says the patroller was skiing on personal time. The victim's name wasn't immediately released.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says the slide was 3 feet deep by 600 feet wide and ran 600 vertical feet.

Mineral County Sheriff Fred Hosselkus says two other skiers were with the victim. One suffered a knee injury. The other saw the slide but didn't get caught. He says all three skiers were originally from New Zealand.

Hosselkus says Wolf Creek Pass has had about 30 inches of new snow in recent days.

Six people have died in avalanches in Colorado this winter.

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(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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