Two men killed in Vail avalanche
The Vail Ski Resort (pictured) is just miles from the location where three men were caught in an avalanche. “Two snow bikers were killed when a massive avalanche swept down a central Colorado mountainside. They have been recovered after a desperate, hours long rescue effort failed to save their lives,” USA Today said.
March 3, 2020
As winter and springtime roll around, snowboarding, skiing, and snowmobiling are just a few of the popular activities offered in Colorado. Ski resorts such as Breckenridge, Keystone, Aspen, and much more offer many of these things to do during this cold season. These sports can be considered thrilling and dangerous, but many don’t take into consideration about how the snow and weather can be just as dangerous.
On Saturday February 15th, 2020, just after Valentines day, three men went out to ride motorized snow bikes on a mountainside, just about 10 to 15 miles north of Vail, not knowing the tragedy that would occur later that day. An article from The Aspentimes reports that a 650 foot wide, 120 foot long avalanche had come crashing down at about 2:30pm Saturday.
Their bodies were recovered the next day on February 16th, 2020. “The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said three people were riding the bikes – a combination of snowmobile and motorcycle – near Red and White Mountain in Eagle County, when the avalanche hit Saturday,” a USA Today article said.
The avalanche had carried the two men into a gully where they were buried by heavy amounts of snow and debris. The third man was able to set himself free and escape. “The survivor contacted authorities at about 4:45 p.m. on Saturday,” Eagle County officials in the same USA Today article said.
Volunteer search crews went out to look for the two other men and their bodies were eventually found. “Two snow bikers were killed when a massive avalanche swept down a central Colorado mountainside. They have been recovered after a desperate, hours long rescue effort failed to save their lives,” USA Today said.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and everyone affected by this accident,” Colorado Avalanche Information Center said in an apology statement.
Eagle County Sheriff offers advice to anyone traveling to the mountains. “It is extremely important for the back-country traveler (especially on slopes between 30 and 45 degrees) to take the time to analyze the layers of the snow-pack and test their stability,” Eagle County Sheriff officials in a Denver Post article said.
