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Fort Collins Man Dies In Jackson County Avalanche

DENVER (AP/CBS4) - The Jackson County coroner has identified the victim of an avalanche over the weekend as 26-year-old Joseph Philpott of Fort Collins.

Coroner George Crocket said Monday that Philpott died of his injuries. He said 24-year-old Alex White survived after being buried for three hours and was taken to a Fort Collins-area hospital, where his condition was not available.

The skiers were navigating backcountry terrain when they were caught in the slide in the Paradise Bowl on the west side of the Cameron Pass on Saturday. Officials believe a dog they had with them may have triggered the slide.

"Joe was an adventurer beyond what I could ever hope or dream to be," Philpott's good friend and classmate Sam Williams said. "He was a smart guy. He loved everybody, he really did."

The avalanche they were caught in measured 1,200 feet wide and in some places six feet deep.

Williams said Philpott died doing what he loved.

"We're all going to miss him. He had so many people that cared about him. He leaves quite a hole," Williams said.

Avalanche Danger
A map shows the avalanche danger in Colorado on March 4, 2013. (credit: CBS)

The Colorado Avalanche Information said Monday the danger of snow slides in Colorado is considerable in northern and central Colorado.

The center released the following images from the Jackson County slide:

Fatal Avalanche
(credit: Colorado Avalanche Information Center)
Fatal Avalanche
(credit: Colorado Avalanche Information Center)

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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