In a miraculous display of survival and rescue, a victim of an avalanche in Colorado was unearthed from beneath the snow after spending over an hour buried. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident which took place on Vail Pass, one of the most popular backcountry skiing areas in the state.
The avalanche, described as a “deep slab” by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), occurred in the late afternoon. The victim, whose identity has not been revealed, was swept away while skiing off-piste. Miraculously, the skier was located and rescued by a combined effort of fellow skiers and the Vail Mountain Rescue Group.
Rapid Response to Avalanche
Upon receiving the emergency alert, the Vail Mountain Rescue Group, a volunteer organization specializing in wilderness search and rescue, immediately mobilized a team to the area. Using beacons and probes, they began the arduous task of searching for the victim in the vast, snow-covered landscape. 
Simultaneously, fellow skiers in the area, equipped with avalanche transceivers, began their own search. The victim was wearing an avalanche beacon, which emits a radio signal that can be picked up by other beacons, crucial in such rescue operations. The collective effort led to the location and recovery of the skier, who was found conscious but in critical condition.
Avalanche Safety and Preparedness
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks associated with backcountry skiing and the importance of preparedness for such events. The CAIC had issued an avalanche warning for the area earlier in the day, marking it as a high-risk zone. However, the allure of fresh snow often proves too tempting for off-piste skiers.
Experts emphasize that anyone venturing into avalanche-prone areas should be equipped with essential safety gear, including avalanche beacons, probes, and shovels. They also recommend taking avalanche safety courses to learn how to respond in such situations. In this case, the victim’s beacon played a significant role in their rescue, underscoring the importance of such devices.
Remarkable Survival and Ongoing Recovery
The survival of the skier, after spending over an hour buried under the snow, is being hailed as extraordinary by the medical and rescue community. Hypothermia is a common risk in such incidents, along with the danger of suffocation. The skier was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.
“This is a miraculous rescue and a stark reminder of the dangers that can exist in the backcountry,” said Summit County Sheriff, Jaime FitzSimons. “We’re grateful for the rapid response of the Vail Mountain Rescue Group and the collaborative effort of everyone involved that led to a successful outcome.”
The Sheriff’s office is using this incident to reinforce the importance of safety when skiing off-piste, emphasizing that all backcountry skiers should carry the necessary equipment and heed warnings about avalanche conditions. The incident occurs amidst a particularly hazardous avalanche season in Colorado, with the CAIC reporting an above-average number of avalanches.
