Sometime during the afternoon hours of Sunday December 14th, a lone backcountry skier was caught and killed in an avalanche in the Richmond Ridge area, just south of Aspen Mountain. The victim was last seen around 1 pm while skiing at the resort. Sometime between 1 and 3 pm he exited the resort through a backcountry gate heading southeast of the ski area and entered backcountry terrain in an area known as “Powerline”. Since he was traveling alone, the exact times and events leading up to the accident are not known.
Map of the area, with the skier's tracks and the avalanche outlined (images from Google Maps and TOPO!)
The avalanche occurred on a NE aspect of Richmond Ridge. The crown of the avalanche, which was around 3 ft deep, was at 11,000 ft, located in a small open pocket in gladed terrain below treeline. The avalanche failed about 10 inches above the ground in a layer of 2mm faceted snow grains that were buried by our storm on Thanksgiving Day. The victim was carried 200 vertical feet down the slope before being buried in a group of trees.
From the crown looking down the avalanche.
The crown of the avalanche
Looking up the avalanche.
Rescue efforts were launched around 8pm by Aspen Ski Company employees after the victim was reported overdue for a gathering that evening. He was found by members of the Aspen and Snowmass ski patrols at approximately 9 pm. He was not wearing an avalanche beacon and carried no rescue gear. Patrol members located him by finding a ski at the snow surface. Just under snow near the ski, they uncovered his boot and began digging him out shortly after.
McCall 20081214
