Snowmobiliers Remotely Trigger Huge Avalanche
Colorado based Ski Doo Backcountry Team Rider Jeremy Mercier posted an ominous caution post to Instagram yesterday, reminding everyone that avalanche danger does not disappear just because you are not standing at the top of a 50 degree line.
"Just a reminder you don’t need to be on the slope to trigger an avalanche."
What does he mean, exactly?
"Yesterday my friend set this slide off remotely and is a good reminder of how dangerous our snowpack is this season."
He explains "my friend came up on the safe side of this avy path, I was sitting up here on my island of safety, as soon as he came through here the whole snow collapsed."
Pretty harrowing.
Gesturing to where the slide occurred, he notes that they "got a pretty good sized slab."
"This is why we take the avalanche training and take a good route. This is super important, especially this year."
This weekend in Colorado, especially, avalanche danger is elevated as fresh snowfall leads to unstable conditions.
FOX31 Denver reports that "the danger is considerable throughout Colorado's backcountry: level 3 of 5 on the scale."
Moderate and considerable avalanche danger this week could lead to high danger on Sunday. Parts of the Gore Range, the Park Range, Elk Range, and Front Range mountains are at the highest risk.
Mercier ends with the precaution: "stay safe out there my friends and take the training!"
Choose a safe plan, come prepared, and have a Plan B.
On average, 6 people per year die from avalanches in Colorado.
Colorado has had no deaths from avalanche related accidents yet this year. Let's keep it that way.
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