Aspen

Avalanche

A solo skier exited the Snowmass/Baldy backcountry gate around noon. While approaching the Omega cliffs the skier likely remotely triggered a D1 soft slab avalanche as the avalanche was not there 30 minutes prior. The skier began descending a path adjacent to the recent avalanche. On his second turn below a rock band he triggered a small wet slab avalanche about 30 feet wide that broke just a few feet above him. The skier was swept off his feet and pushed about 100-200 feet downslope and lost a ski and a pole. When the skier came to a stop mid-slope he appeared to be partially buried and struggled to get up. The skier then boot packed up the avalanche to get his ski and pole then skied to an adjacent steep slope and finished descending to West Willow Creek. The skier made it back to the resort with all his gear and unharmed.