Skier dies after being buried in avalanche at 11,300 feet, Colorado officials say

A skier died in an avalanche, Colorado officials said.

On Jan. 7, a backcountry skier was “caught, buried, and killed in an avalanche on Red Mountain Number 3” near Bollywood, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

The avalanche happened on the northwest-facing slope of the mountain at 11,300 feet in the San Juan Mountains, officials said.

The San Juan Mountains are in the southeast part of the Colorado Rockies that extends for 150 miles, according to Britannica.

Colorado Avalanche Information Center officials are scheduled to go to the scene Jan. 8, officials said.

The San Juan Mountains are a 250-mile drive southwest of Denver.

What to know about avalanches

Avalanches happen quickly and catch people by surprise. They can move between 60 and 80 mph and typically happen on slopes of 30-45 degrees, according to experts.

Skiers, snowmobilers and hikers can set off an avalanche when a layer of snow collapses and starts to slide down the slope.

In the U.S., avalanches are most common from December to April, but they can happen at any time if the conditions are right, National Geographic reported.

At least six people in the U.S. have died in avalanches this season as of Jan. 8, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

People heading into snow should always check the local avalanche forecast at Avalanche.org, officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, and have an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel ready.

“Emergency services are usually too far away from the scene of an avalanche, and time is important,” Simon Trautman, a national avalanche specialist, said. “A person trapped under the snow may not have more than 20 or 30 minutes. So, in a backcountry scenario, you are your own rescue party.”

If an avalanche breaks out, it’s best to move diagonal to the avalanche to an edge, Trautman said.

“Try to orient your feet downhill so that your lower body, not your head, takes most of the impact,” officials said. “You may also get into a tight ball as another way to protect your head.”

This story was originally published January 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Skier dies after being buried in avalanche at 11,300 feet, Colorado officials say."