An avalanche on Buffalo Pass Saturday had a crown up to 12 feet deep in areas. The slide was triggered by a snowcat more than 70 feet away. (Courtesy CAIC)
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — In an “extremely close call” in the backcountry east of Vail on Saturday, a snowboarder got caught in an avalanche that carried him through the trees and buried him under about a foot and a half of snow.
The AvaLung breathing system he had and transceiver his partner used to find him — which took about 15 minutes — likely saved his life.
Colorado is seeing a once-in-a-decade snowpack that has not been this bad since 2012, according to Eric Green, director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. The poor snowpack has also been deadly, with the 15 deaths in the first week of February in the U.S. being the most recorded since 1910. Eight of the deaths were Coloradans.