A 43-year-old Longmont man buried up to his neck by a weekend avalanche near Echo Lake died later from heart failure and internal injuries, according to autopsy results released Tuesday.
Steven Bloom died five hours after the avalanche.
He had gone snowshoeing Saturday with his girlfriend on Mount Evans. His girlfriend skied ahead of him on snow-covered Colorado 5, the road to the summit, when he slipped 50 yards off the side of the road, authorities said.
The winding road is closed during the winter but is a popular spot for skiers.
Bloom called out to his girlfriend and her dog just before the avalanche came down on him.
His girlfriend managed to dig him out, and a climber training nearby came to his aide, offering Bloom comfort before he eventually succumbed to the trauma.
