CAIC

Avalanche Details

Location: East Vail, backcountry southeast of Vail Ski Area
State: Colorado
Date: 2014/01/07
Time: 12:00 AM
Summary Description: 4 sidecountry riders caught, 1 injured, 1 killed
Primary Activity: Sidecountry Rider
Primary Travel Mode: Ski

Number

Caught: 0
Fully Buried: 0
Injured: 1
Killed: 1

Avalanche

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

Site

Slope Aspect: E
Site Elevation: 11400 ft
Slope Angle: --
Slope Characteristic: --

Accident Summary

The avalanche occurred in the backcountry southeast of Vail Ski Area. The avalanche occurred on an easterly aspect near treeline. "Sidecountry riders" exit ski areas to access backcountry terrain outside of operating ski area boundaries.

An avalanche fatality occurred in the this avalanche path on January 4, 2008.

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Avalanche in East Vail backcountry. Dale Atkins photo. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/media/full/acc_518_6040.jpg','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> A view of the avalanche in the East Vail backcountry. Note skiers on the ridgeline for scale. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/media/full/acc_518_6045.jpeg','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> A view of the avalanche in the East Vail backcountry. Note skiers on the ridgeline for scale. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/media/full/acc_518_6046.jpeg','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> A view of the avalanche in the East Vail backcountry. Note skiers on the ridgeline for scale. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/media/full/acc_518_6047.jpeg','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 5:</b> A view of the avalanche in the East Vail backcountry. Note skiers on the ridgeline for scale. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/media/full/acc_518_6048.jpeg','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 6:</b> A view of the avalanche in the East Vail backcountry. Note skiers on the ridgeline for scale. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/media/full/acc_518_6049.jpeg','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)