Colorado Skier Injured in Avalanche on Berthoud Pass

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Dec 4, 2024 5:13 PM ET

A skier was caught and seriously injured in an avalanche on Colorado’s Berthoud pass on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, according to a statement from Grand County Search and Rescue (GCSAR).

The skier managed to dig themself out of the avalanche’s debris. However, due to their injuries, they couldn’t leave the backcountry on their own.

At about 3:17 p.m. GCSAR was activated to respond and was joined by multiple agencies including Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Grand County Emergency Medical Services (GCEMS), East Grand Fire Protection District.

Rescuers found the skier by tracking GPS coordinates from the skier’s cell phone. The skier was transported out of the backcountry using a toboggan and a rope uphaul system. GCSAR’s statement noted that the skier was treated for multiple injuries at the scene but didn’t specify what injuries the skier sustained aside from mild hypothermia. Rescue crews departed the field by 7 p.m.

“Our subject today was very lucky,” GCSAR wrote on social media yesterday.

GCSAR is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that doesn’t charge for it sservices.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is actively investigating the avalanche.

Per the CAIC’s avalanche accident tab, the incident marks the first documented avalanche injury of the 2024 and 2025 ski season in Colorado. No skiers were buried or injured during the three previously reported avalanche accidents.

On Tuesday, the CAIC’s avalanche rating for the Berthoud Pass area was “considerable” near and above the treeline. “Considerable” denotes the third level of the North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale, indicating that dangerous avalanche conditions exist.

“Observers are reporting fewer avalanches, and they’re becoming more difficult to trigger, but you can still trigger avalanches large enough to bury or kill you across the region,” yesterday’s forecast discussion read. Persistent slabs were the primary avalanche problem of the day.

Berthoud Pass is a popular backcountry skiing destination that caters to residents of Denver, Colorado. GCSAR, at the conclusion of its statement describing the Tuesday avalanche, urged skiers and snowboarders to check the CAIC forecast before heading into the backcountry.

Across the Western United States, avalanche danger remains the highest in Colorado, per Avalanche.org’s map. Between 2013 and 2023, Colorado saw more avalanche fatalities than any other state.

Be the first to read breaking ski news with POWDER. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing. From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers, we are committed to keeping you informed.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: