Avalanche Advisory In Effect For Parts Of The High Country
LOVELAND, Colo. (CBS4) – An avalanche advisory is in effect for parts of the high country after several snow slides including one that trapped a skier near Loveland Pass on Friday.
The special advisory is in effect through the weekend for the Sawatch Mountains along with Vail and Summit County.
It extends to the Mount Evans wilderness and up through Rocky Mountain National Park.
Friday's afternoon snow slide had the skier completely buried.
A fellow snowboarder was vale to help dig him out.
"This was pretty heroic itself, especially without all the rescue gear that the professional rescuers have," said Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Lilley.
The man wasn't hurt when the avalanche came roaring down the Loveland Pass.
"It feels like it's only a matter of time before this might unfortunately turn into something more tragic," said Charles Pitman from the Summit County Rescue Group.
Pitman says with the tender snow and warmer weather it's a recipe for a dangerous avalanche season like last year.
"In fact, today Arapahoe Basin ski patrol called in a slide on the other side of the Loveland Pass and Summit County, which was quite large," said Pitman.
Authorities said that no one was trapped in that incident.
Pitman suggests checking the Colorado Avalanche Information Systems website at least three times a day, and carrying a beacon with you if you're hitting the backcountry.
