Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

4 skiers were descending a low-angle (~26 degree) bowl on the south side of Loveland Pass, into the drainage ending along Hwy. 6 below A-basin. Skier #1 descended the bowl and stopped in a safe zone prior to crossing under a steep, rocky face. Skier #2 then descended to this position. Upon coming to a stop, skier #2 remotely triggered an avalanche that propagated across the face and ran adjacent to the safe zone into a choke point at the gully exit. Skiers #3 and #4 then safely descended the bowl and the party assessed the avalanche. The avalanche occurred on a SE aspect at 11,500ft, approx. 45 degrees in the start zone. The crown varied between 1 and 4ft deep, with the slide running on the layer of depth hoar at the ground. The slide was medium relative to path, with destructive force sufficient to carry and injure a person (R3 D1.5).