17-Year-Old Skier Survives Copper Mt Avalanche

Along with the snow, come the slides – it’s officially avalanche season in the backcountry. This past weekend, a 17-year-old skier was buried up to his neck in an avalanche near Copper Mountain in Colorado. Thankfully, he survived thanks to his diligent friends.

Luckily for the teenager, his friends witnessed the slide and were able to locate him quickly and dig him out. They then called 911 from a cell phone and Summit County rescuers were able to transport him by helicopter to a medical center nearby where he was listed in critical condition. Rescuers said he was lucky to get out alive.

“It (the avalanche) was 15 feet wide at the top, expanding to 65 to 75 feet wide at the toe, and about 500 to 600 vertical feet in length. The snow failed right down to the ground, and there were a lot of rocks,” said Kevin Kelble, the flight paramedic at the scene. “You’re getting swept down a slope that is covered in rocks and dirt and just nasty, nasty terrain and you are going through the grinder.”

Officials are warning that this year will be a particularly active avalanche season. “There have been seven incidents and one close call reported in Colorado in October. Nine people have been caught, three of them partially buried and two of them fully buried,” said Spencer Logan of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. “It’s just fascinating that we’re almost on a record-setting pace. And I’m really surprised, to be honest with you , that we haven’t had our first fatality,” Kelble said.

All backcountry skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and snowmobilers should be trained in avalanche safety and carrying the proper gear – avalanche beacons and transmitters, avalanche probes and avalanche shovels at the very least. Wearing an Avalung is also a smart move if you’ll be skiing in avalanche-prone terrain. Sierra Trading Post carries Black Diamond Avalung Backpacks that provide air in case you become buried by a slide.

Be smart out there – it could just save your life!