A Snow Biker Died In An Avalanche On Cottonwood Pass In The Sawatch Range West Of Buena Vista, Colorado
Cottonwood Pass, Colorado – On Friday, February 5, 2016, Ron Brabander, 58, of Woodland Park, died in an avalanche while snow biking alone in the Lost Lake area south of Cottonwood Pass in the Sawatch Range west of Buena Vista, Colorado.
At approximately 11 AM, Brabander was riding a motorized snow bike when he triggered a large avalanche above treeline on an east aspect at 11,900′. The CAIC classified the avalanche as a R2, D2 slide that occurred on a 36 degree convex slope.
A group of snowmobilers in the Cottonwood Pass area heard the avalanche and went to investigate. They then notified members of Chaffee County Search and Rescue who were training in the area. The SAR members found a bit of the snow bike sticking out of the snow.
They dug out the machine and then extricated Brabander. The CAIC reports that he was “buried under six feet of snow.” The rescuers began CPR, but Brabander was declared dead at the scene. The Chafee Country Sheriff’s Office and Colorado Parks and Wildlife also responded to the scene of the avalanche near Cottonwood Pass.
The CAIC will visit the site and publish a full report soon.
We will try to update this post as more information becomes available.
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Read more about the avalanche fatality that killed a snow biker near Cottonwood Pass, Colorado:
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This is the fourth avalanche fatality in Colorado and the 18th avalanche fatality in the US during the 2015/2016 winter season.
- 2/5/2016 – Snowmobiler Killed In Avalanche Near Wolf Creek Pass In Colorado
- 1/21/2016 – Snowmobiler Dies In Avalanche In Ruby Range West Of Crested Butte, Colorado
- 1/16/2016 – Climber Killed In Avalanche At St. Mary’s Glacier, Colorado
