News - Local
Manitou Springs man dies in back country avalanche
Posted: Feb 12, 2010 11:18 AM by Greg Boyce
Updated: Feb 12, 2010 11:18 AM
A back country skier from Manitou Springs is reported dead in an avalanche in Ouray County. It happened Thursday afternoon along the remote Dallas Trail.
Sheriff Dominic Mattivi said seven or eight people were skiing in the Cirqu Mountain area. An avalanche swept two skiers away. One had multiple broken bones, the other was unresponsive when the other skiers got to him. Both were transported from the site by helicopter.
The man who died was apparently thrown into a tree by the force of the avalanche. He is 26 years old, from Manitou Springs. So far his name has not been released.
The other injured man was taken to Montrose Memorial Hospital.
John Snook of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center says storms in recent weeks have created a weak layer of snow underneath new snowfall from the most recent storm. He says there have been at least five avalanches triggered by people this week.
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