Road crews work to clear the debris on Saturday afternoon.
This past Saturday, skiers triggered a wet slab avalanche that covered highway US 550 in Colorado, just north of Silverton. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center report, two skiers were caught in the slide, but fortunately neither were buried or injured. The slide debris on the road was 12-15 feet deep and up to 350 feet wide. The start zone was south facing and above tree line.
This avalanche serves as a reminder that riders should be especially cautious when traveling through terrain where avalanche paths cross roadways.
The avalanche forecast for Saturday rated the danger as moderate. It listed the primary avalanche problem as persistent slab, but advised that "you might be able to trigger a small Loose Wet avalanche on southerly slopes as the surface snow becomes moist."
Had motorists been on this section of the road at the time of the slide, this could have resulted in a tragic accident. We urge backcountry riders use a community-first approach when riding in avalanche terrain near roadways or in popular areas.
About The Author
stash member Pyper Dixon
Alaskan native. I moved to Bozeman, Montana to study skiing and paragliding at MSU, but somehow ended up with a Land Management degree. Now I live in Jackson, where I can continue my ski education without the distractions of school.