An avalanche near a ski hut in Ouray County this evening has reportedly killed one person and injured at least one more, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and Ouray County officials.
Details are sketchy as rescuers respond to the remote area in the rugged northern San Juan Mountains near Ouray and Ridgway.
Susan Hale of the Avalanche Information Center’s Silverton office said she had been told, preliminarily, that two were reported to be backcountry “riders,” perhaps skiers, who were staying at the Ridgway Hut in the San Juan Hut System,
She did not know their names or where they are from.
An Ouray Mountain Search and Rescue spokesperson told 9News rescuers could only get to the area by snowmobile or skis and information was not yet available.
According the hut system’s website, the Ridgway Hut is at 10,200 feet in elevation with “an all-encompassing view of the north face of Mount Sneffels and the hidden and high peaks of Blaine Basin.”
CAIC staff will visit the site to investigator tomorrow.
Recent heavy snow in southwest Colorado has created a “considerable” avalanche risk in the region, according to the CAIC’s index.
Hale said the snow-choked region has had several small skier-triggered avalanches the last few days.
“We have a relatively unstable snowpack this season, creating especially tricky route-finding for the backcountry traveller,” she said. “This doesn’t mean that folks shouldn’t get out but (they) should take extra caution in their travels, for instance, checking the avalanche bulletins before planning backcountry touring options. Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
