Aspen
AvalancheColter Hinchcliffe · Jan 7, 2017 · Aspen
Weather
Winds calm until after accident. Temps very cold but warmed to teens during the day.
Avalanche
A party of three skied an easterly slope with no signs of instability except a Storm Snow avalanche on a northerly slope nearby. They estimated this occurred the day before. They skinned east and ascended a low angle gully to the top of a northerly slope for their 2nd run. The slope avalanched on the first skier when he was midway down. The slab was 50 or so feet across but the debris moved quickly and the skier was unable to escape. He was carried several hundred feet down slope and stopped on the surface. Unfortunately, he hit a small tree on the way down, with left him with a serious lower leg injury. The party made a cell phone to request a rescue, provided first aid, and moved the victim several hundred feet to a landing zone. They had difficulties communicating with SAR and getting accurate coordinates for their location. Searchers located them just before dark and transported the victim to a hospital. The remaining two members of the group evacuated under their own power.