Avalanche — West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, Colorado

2025-04-19 · West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, Colorado

Event narrative

Per the CAIC forecast for the day of the incident, the overall avalanche threat in the area of the incident was rated as Moderate (2/5), with Low (1/5) being the lowest threat and Extreme (5/5) being the highest. The breakdown at different elevation bands gave Moderate (2/5) threats Near and Above treeline, while areas below treeline were rated as Low (1/5). The main avalanche type of concern was Wind Slab, with west through north through to east facing slopes the areas of concern. Likelihood was rated as Possible (2/5), with Unlikely (1/5) the lowest likelihood and Certain (5/5) the highest. The expected size was rated as Small to Large, meaning avalanches could range from mostly harmless outside of unfavorable terrain to large enough to bury, injure, or kill someone. The Avalanche Forecast Discussion for this area highlighted the fact that the avalanche problem was isolated, but reactive when found. You won't find many dangerous wind-loaded slopes, but when you do, there is a good chance you will trigger an avalanche. As for the actual incident avalanche, little data is available from the summary. The incident occurred on an east-facing slope at treeline, where the avalanche threat was rated as Moderate (2/5). Two backcountry skiers were in the area, and had already noticed some sloughing in the snowpack but as it was very unconsolidated and light, had decided to continue to ski. At the top of their second lap down, the slough had consolidated and was moving much faster, catching both skiers on their way down. Skier 1, who wrote the report, was able to escape, but Skier 2 lost a ski in the avalanche was carried all the way down, and ultimately was injured. No information was given as to the severity of the injury. The avalanche was rated as D1.5, or the higher end of a Small avalanche, and was small relative to its path.

Wider weather episode

In the days prior to this avalanche incident, the area in question had received a few inches of fresh snowfall from a spring storm. Additionally, some heightened winds had led to the development of what is know as wind slabs at the higher elevations in this range. While avalanche danger wasn't rated excessively high (at a 2 out of 5, with 5 being the maximum), there was still enough of a threat that any one avalanche could injure or kill a backcountry recreator.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1257251. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.