CAIC

Avalanche Details

Location: North Face of Battleship, southeast of Ophir
State: Colorado
Date: 2020/12/19
Time: Unknown
Summary Description: 2 backcountry skiers caught, buried, and killed
Primary Activity: Backcountry Tourer
Primary Travel Mode: Ski

Number

Caught: 0
Fully Buried: 2
Injured: 0
Killed: 2

Avalanche

Type: --
Trigger: --
Trigger (subcode): --
Size - Relative to Path: --
Size - Destructive Force: --
Sliding Surface: --

Site

Slope Aspect: --
Site Elevation: --
Slope Angle: --
Slope Characteristic: --

Accident Summary

PRELIMINARY: Two backcountry skiers were reported overdue on the evening of Saturday, December 19. The pair had planned to ski in an area locally known as the Battleship, southeast of Ophir Pass. In the dark from a helicopter, rescuers could see a large avalanche and ski tracks. The two skier were later found buried in the avalanche debris. San Juan County Search and Rescue and other agencies recovered the bodies on December 20.

Our sincere condolences to all the friends and family of the victims.

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Topographic map of Mineral Creek and Ophir Pass. The red circle marks the north side of the Battleship where the avalanche occurred. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/xlaten7c2rcxc9uw3qhhnm2o4p0w?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=ba7903a03e09059ae1c3b6af5b4e2a57','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Photo of the north side of the Battleship, taken from a helicopter on December 20. The skiers were near the looker's right (west) side of the image. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/7wq3ghdp5mgv505fmj5wskceq9yl?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=4916cd89b5c759e4544e0fc7f665c5fb','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Photo of the north side of the Battleship on December 20, 2020. The red circle indicates the area where the skiers were found. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/4eo8iqccp98ptpiwtgc7isvobz5k?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=362f45afc6b726e012a1c9ca1972dbef','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> Photo of the north side of the Battleship on December 20, 2020. The red circle indicates the area where the skiers were found. The horizontal line indicates the extent of the avalanche crown. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/s97oo13mddjw27i07hf166q6x52o?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=9f1abc1e874bcdd1d95df1e487ba3d31','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)