DENVER (KDVR) — A skier died after being caught in an avalanche in San Miguel County on Monday.
The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office posted to Facebook Tuesday at 9:40 a.m. and said search and rescue crews were working to locate a single skier who was possibly caught in an avalanche in the Waterfall Creek area of Ophir. The town is south of Telluride.
Dispatchers received a call Monday night that a male was overdue from his backcountry outing.
Search and rescue crews used air resources and bombing mitigation to find the skier.
A skier was killed in an avalanche near Telluride on Jan. 22. (San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office)
A skier was killed in an avalanche near Telluride on Jan. 22. (San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office)
At 10 a.m. Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said rescuers located the skier. Rescuers said the skier died from what they believe to be traumatic injuries suffered from an avalanche.
According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, this is the first avalanche-related death of the season.
“On behalf of all of us at the Sheriff’s Office and our Search and Rescue team, I would like to express our condolences to the family and friends of this gentleman. I’d also like to thank our SAR team for their work in this inherently risky mission,” said San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters on Facebook.
Search and rescue crews are still in the area, they are asking everyone to stay out of the Waterfall Creek area.
More information on the skier will be released once his next of kin has been notified.
Rescue crews have been warning about increased avalanche danger in Colorado for several weeks.
According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the Ophir area is under considerable risk.
