CLEAR CREEK COUNTY — A Denver snowboarder was able to ride and swim his way out of a large avalanche on Loveland Pass around noon Tuesday.
Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office Major Rick Albers said Alec Meyer, 25, caused the avalanche and “it broke on him.” Meyer rode it almost to the bottom, but when the avalanche started to flatten out he started to sink.
Meyer used a swimming motion to keep himself on top of the slide, and he was only buried to his mid-section. His girlfriend saw the accident, skied down and helped free him. No one was injured.
The incident occurred on Loveland Ridge, located near the top of Loveland near Eisenhower Tunnel.
According to Albers, neither Meyer or his girlfriend had shovels or beacons. No other skiers or snowboarders were involved in the accident.
Matt Scheer of Breckenridge was hiking in the area on his lunch break (around 12:15 p.m.) when he saw the remnants of the snow slide and took some photos.
“Nobody was conducting a rescue search when I was up there,” Sheer said. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time with my camera.”
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