Avalanche — Southwestern San Juan Mountains, Colorado
2003-03-22 · Southwestern San Juan Mountains, Colorado
1
Direct deaths
$5K
Property damage
Wider weather episode
Nine people were driving snowmobiles just below the 12,000 foot level in the La Plata Mountains when one of the snowmobiles got stuck at a location behind the others. Another snowmobiler who came back to help triggered the avalanche which came down from a higher elevation of the mountain and engulfed the stuck snowmobiler. The victim was not recovered in time to be revived. The location of the avalanche was about 14 miles south of Rico on Burro Mountain. The avalanche was 700 feet wide and fell 800 vertical feet.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5348974. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.