Three cross-country skiers were caught in an avalanche that killed two of them Tuesday in the White River National Forest, 5 miles southeast of Aspen, Pitkin County sheriff’s officials said.
Authorities had no information about the victims, and as of Tuesday evening the bodies of the two men were still being transported by snowmobile from the forest, sheriff’s patrol director Jeff Lumsden said.
The county’s emergency-dispatch center received a call from a mobile phone about the slide about 3 p.m. from the survivor.
The Associated Press identified the surviving skier as Jason Luck, 33, of Arvada, and said the victims were from New York City and Argentina.
The survivor reported he and two other men were on the northwest face of 12,339-foot Mount Shimer, Lumsden said.
The caller said one of his companions had been buried by about 4 feet of snow. He said he had dug him out and that he was conscious and breathing, Lumsden said.
The other skier was buried under 8 feet of snow and appeared to have been killed immediately, the man said.
A medical helicopter from Summit County flew a snow- safety expert and a medic to the area, but upon their arrival they reported there was only one survivor, Lumsden said.
Shimer’s peak also is known by locals as “Sunshine Peak” because it is the last mountain to capture the light at sundown.
