A group of three backcountry skiers was the first group to ascend and descend the Dragon’s Tail Couloir in Rocky Mountain National Park on April 19, 2025. Skier 4 chatted with these skiers about the riding conditions. They said conditions were not good and that the snow was not powder.

At approximately 9 AM Skier 4 left Emerald Lake and ascended the apron between the Dead Elk couloir (climber’s left) and the Dragon’s Tail Couloir (climber’s right). He was aware of a natural slide in the Dead Elk couloir. The weather was sunny at this point. Where the apron divides into two couloirs, Skier 4 transitioned to follow the bootpack set by the earlier group. Cloud cover increased as Skier 4 ascended. He noticed the snow becoming wet.

At approximately 10 AM, Skier 4 decided to end his ascent and start skiing down. He made a couple of turns before hearing a whooshing sound like a wave behind him. An avalanche swept him off his feet. He quickly lost both skis. The avalanche carried Skier 4 approximately 600 to 800 vertical feet down the couloir and onto the apron. He came to rest on the surface of the snow. Skier 4 walked down to the trailhead. Several groups had witnessed the avalanche and checked on Skier 4. At the trailhead, he talked to Rocky Mountain National Park rangers and a Friends of CAIC trailhead outreach coordinator.

Another group of three backcountry tourers had climbed to the top of Dragon's Tail along the ridgeline and descended after Skier 4. They came across the avalanche debris with skis sticking out. After not finding an avalanche transceiver signal, two group members continued to probe the debris, while the Skier 7 went down for help. Skier 7 spoke with the Rocky Mountain National Park rangers and a Friends of CAIC trailhead outreach coordinator at Bear Lake. They confirmed that Skier 4 had returned to the trailhead around an hour earlier. Skier 7 went back up to let his group know they could stop searching.