There are three “T’s” of backcountry snowmobiling that can save lives in an emergency: Trip planning. Plan your trip carefully and let other people know where you will be riding and when you expect to return. That way emergency responders can be notified quickly if you do not return from your trip as expected. Training. […]
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Spring skiing is almost here! These are some tips to keep in mind to help you enjoy the warmer weather skiing in Colorado: Avoid Icy Mornings and Slushy Afternoons Prime skiing is between 10am and 2pm. This allows the sun to soften up the icy snow before snow turns into slush on the mountain. This […]
Whether drunk or distracted by their phones, wrong-way drivers remain an ongoing danger on Colorado’s highways throughout the state. Based data provided by the state, Colorado State Patrol investigators respond to wrong-way drivers crashes on an average of 112 times a year. That is an average of 2 wrong-way crashes on Colorado highways per week. […]
A Vail Resorts investor report shows how Colorado’s statewide, all-time low snowpack has impacted the ski industry. At only 58% of the typical snowpack, Vail Resorts is still limiting ski operations with only three months left before spring shutdowns. As of January 20, 2025, of the 947 Vail Resorts–owned trails in Colorado, only 454 are […]
On January 10, 2025, a group of three skiers cut the upper chute area at Haiyaha Couloir in Rocky Mountain National Park and triggered a wind slab avalanche. One skier entered the area, and the avalanche fractured above him with a 9–14-inch crown. The skier was caught, carried, and briefly buried in the avalanche. The […]
Avalanche notifications result in immediate action, even if a call comes in with no information on whether an individual is buried or injured. Urgency is critical for survival from an avalanche burial, and first responders act as quickly as possible to take all measures in order to save a life. The first step in an […]
An investigation is ongoing after a skier was found unresponsive at Keystone Ski Area on January 7, 2026. Around noon, a group of skiers found the 59-year-old male guest on “The Grizz,” an advanced “black” rated run in Keystone’s backcountry area. The group of called for help and performed CPR on the man. When ski […]
A snowboarder was caught, carried and partially buried in an avalanche on January 9, 2026, in East Vail. The snowboarder was pinned against a tree and unable to self-extricate. Fortunately, the snowboarder’s partner skinned up to the burial location to assist. The snowboarder suffered only minor injuries. An Instagram post from the Friends of Colorado […]
Preparation and a plan for a backcountry emergency is always a smart idea. The first step is to ensure that you prepare so an emergency does not occur. You should check the weather and avalanche forecasts, tell someone where you are going and when you will be back, avoid travelling alone, especially on more technical […]
