Avalanche conditions have increased significantly in the past few weeks to the point where backcountry skies and snowshoers need to take extreme caution.
More than 500 slides were recorded just last week, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. A back-country skier from Aspen was killed in a slide on Tuesday. Two others have died this season and at least 7 others have been caught in slides.
“Avalanches have been breaking deeper, sometimes carrying the entire year’s snowpack with them,” said Ethan Greene, CAIC director.
“We’ve seen some very big and destructive slides. The last 10 days have been one of the most active periods we’ve seen in years.”
The problem comes from recent storms that have packed heavy snow on top of a weak snowpack. Between 20 and 50 inches of snow have fallen since Feb. 18.
Some of the most dangerous areas are around Aspen, Vail/Summit County and in the San Juans in southwestern Colorado.
Mike McPhee: 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com
