Avalanche — Animas River Basin, Colorado

2023-03-19 · Animas River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

Three backcountry skiers triggered and were buried or partially buried by a large avalanche in the Maroon Bowl outside of Aspen Highlands Ski Area on a steep northwest-facing slope. The avalanche occurred at an elevation of 11500 feet and ran for 2000 vertical feet. Two skiers were able to extricate themselves, but the third perished under the weight of the snow and debris.

Wider weather episode

Heavy snow from a series of moist, atmospheric river events from late February into mid-March 2023 resulted in an unstable snowpack across the Colorado Rockies.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1077867. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.