Two Backcountry Skiers Injured In Large Wet Slide Between Red Mountain Pass and Silverton | US 550 Buried In 12′-15′ of Avalanche Debris
Silverton, Colorado – At 11:30 AM on February 13, 2016, five backcountry ski tourers triggered a large avalanche in the Eagle avalanche path above US 550 between Red Mountain Pass and the town of Silverton, Colorado. Two of the backcountry skiers were caught in the avalanche and injured, but there were no fatalities.
The wet slab avalanche slid at the ground and was a result of the unseasonably warm weather in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. According to the CAIC, the avalanche occurred on a south aspect above treeline at 12,200′. They ranked it as an R3, D3.
The avalanche covered US 550 in 12 to 15 feet of avalanche debris. The Colorado Department of Transportation had to use heavy equipment ot clear the road, which was closed for the majority of the day.
See images of this avalanche on the CAIC accident report.
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