Steamboat Resort reports ‘human-triggered’ avalanche in closed area Saturday
Steamboat Resort reported a “human-triggered” avalanche in the mountain’s Christmas Tree Bowl area on Saturday.
A post on the resort’s Facebook page said the incident was “troubling” due to the terrain in the area being closed to skiers and riders and due to the “significant resources” required to respond to the slide and ensure that no skiers or riders were trapped.
“Closed trails are closed for a reason,” said the resort’s social media post. “When skiers and riders duck ropes, they not only put themselves at risk but they also put other skiers and riders, and patrol, at risk.”
“Patrol takes these infractions very seriously, and skiers and riders who duck ropes to play in closed terrain can/will lose their pass,” the statement added.
As of Sunday morning, a report with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center had not been posted.
Saturday’s in-bounds slide comes roughly one month after Steamboat patrollers reported another large in-bounds avalanche in the area near the Chutes on Nov. 27.
Matt Hartsell, a ski patroller and avalanche team leader for the resort, said at the time that the November slide was, “the largest slab avalanche we have seen in Steamboat in almost two decades.”
According to Hartsell, the November slide occurred as a result of a stressed snowpack following heavy snow accumulation during a storm lasting Nov. 25-27.
That slide was believed to be from a natural trigger that occurred in closed terrain, according to a report filed with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
Trevor Ballantyne is the city government and housing reporter. To reach him, call 970-871-4254 or email him at tballantyne@SteamboatPilot.com.
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.