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A solo backcountry skier died on March 7, 2026, after triggering an unintentional hard-slab avalanche in the south fork of Resolution Creek, Colorado, locally known as Boss Basin near Vail Pass. The incident occurred on a northeast-facing slope where the skier was making his second descent of the day. The National Avalanche Center has released an official report detailing the factors leading up to the fatal slide as means for all to learn from the tragic accident and prevent similar ones in the future. It is summarized below.
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The Avalanche and Terrain
The avalanche released on a weak layer of buried faceted crystals and stepped down to the ground, taking the entire season’s snowpack with it. It was classified as medium-sized relative to the path and large enough to injure, bury, or kill a person. The crown face ranged from 1 to 3 feet deep and was about 400 feet wide. The slope angle below the crown ranged from 33 to 36 degrees before ending in a flat bench. This transition formed a terrain trap, allowing the avalanche debris to pile 4 to 9 feet deep, despite the avalanche only running about 180 vertical feet through sparse trees.
Weather and Snowpack
The winter prior to March 2026 had historically low snowfall. A Copper Mountain SNOTEL station 5 miles from the site reported only 7.8 inches of snow water equivalent on March 7, which was 65% of the 30-year median. The shallow snowpack and prolonged dry periods allowed weak layers of faceted grains to form through January. Storms from February 11 through the beginning of March buried these weak layers. On the day of the accident, Copper Mountain reported 9 inches of new snow, adding a soft layer to the top of the snowpack.
Events and Rescue Summary
The skier arrived at the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area at approximately 7:00 a.m. and used a snowmobile to access the terrain. He was last seen heading to the Boss Basin area at approximately 1:15 p.m. A family member reported him overdue around 11:30 p.m.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Summit County Rescue Group (SCRG), and Vail Mountain Rescue conducted an overnight search. Rescuers found the skier’s snowmobile at approximately 4:00 a.m.. At 6:00 a.m., an SCRG drone pilot using thermal imaging found the avalanche with ski tracks entering it. Flight for Life dropped off two searchers and an avalanche rescue dog at 8:00 a.m.. The dog quickly alerted to an area where the tip of one ski was visible. A rescuer probed the snow and struck the skier on the first attempt. The skier was buried about a foot below the surface and found with no signs of life.
Investigation Comments
CAIC investigators noted that the skier was traveling alone. Between October 2020 and September 2025, solo travelers accounted for about 23% of avalanche deaths in Colorado.
The skier was not wearing a transmitting avalanche rescue transceiver, though he carried two transceivers in the off position in his backpack. Investigators noted that while a transceiver will not help a solo traveler survive an avalanche, it makes it easier for rescuers to find the buried individual and shortens the search-and-rescue operation. Given the depth of the burial, the lack of signs of trauma, and the fact that the skier’s skis were still on in downhill mode, investigators stated there is a reasonable chance that a fast and efficient companion rescue could have produced a different outcome.
The post National Avalanche Center Releases Full Report on Solo Backcountry Skier Killed in Avalanche Near Vail Pass, CO appeared first on SnowBrains.
Ссылка на источник: https://snowbrains.com/national-avalanche-center-releases-full-report-on-solo-backcountry-skier-killed-in-avalanche-near-vail-pass-co/
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