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Summit County Rescue Group Responds To Avalanche; Riders Escape

SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Summit County Rescue Group crews tell CBS4 they responded to an avalanche in Summit County on Sunday. SCRG officials say the reported avalanche is in an area known as Dave's Wave on Loveland Pass.

CBS4 Mountain Bureau reporter Spencer Wilson reports a helicopter flew around the slide area, but eventually left.

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SCRG tells CBS4 those who were caught in the avalanche were able to escape. They believe the skier undercut a ridge and was trapped in the avalanche on the way down. They think he was dragged 200-300 feet, and then over a 50 foot cliff.

"By the time we were able to get out here, they were already on their way down," said Anna DeBattiste, spokeswoman for SCRG. "He was actually tumbling and he was in a train trap...the avalanche carried him over a cliff. He is very very lucky that he has nothing but very minor injuries. "

Wilson reports a mother and son were in the avalanche and are safe.

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"The avalanche took the son over a cliff, too. He got away with only bumps and bruises," Wilson reports from the scene. He add the mother is a physical therapist and dug him out from waist-deep snow.

"It took her about 10 minutes to get to him. He was buried about waist deep and she dug him out and she is a physical therapist and tended to his injuries," said DeBattiste.

Crews tell CBS4 the pair was on their way to retrieve gear they left on Saturday when they started the slide.

According to CAIC's website, there is moderate risk of avalanches in the backcountry of Vail and Summit counties.

The area is in the backcountry between Loveland Pass and the Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. According to a Colorado Avalanche Information Center report from 2008 of an avalanche in that area, the run can be seen from the ski area and U.S. 6.

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