2 Dead After Separate Colorado Avalanches On Sunday

Two people were killed following two separate avalanches in Grand and Clear Creek counties on Sunday (Feb. 14).

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reported a snowmobiler was caught and killed in an avalanche on Mount Epworth on Sunday, to the west of Rollins Pass in Grand County.

The snowmobiler was buried above treeline; when the avalanche stopped, he was buried on Pumphouse Lake.

According to the Clear Creek Sheriff's Office, a solo skier in Clear Creek county also died when he was caught in an avalanche on Mount Trelease north of I-70 at Exit 216.

The Denver Post says the avalanche was reported around 9:40 a.m. on Sunday, and both the sheriff’s office and the Alpine Rescue Team responded to the scene.

A man’s body was found around 11:40 a.m. in the debris field of the avalanche. The man will be publicly identified after his family is notified of his death.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says the victims are the ninth and 10th people to die in Colorado avalanches this season. Both died during a weekend that particularly dangerous avalanche conditions were to be expected.

An avalanche watch is currently in effect for the Aspen, Gunnison, Grand Mesa, and North San Juan zones.

Learn more about avalanche conditions in Colorado on the Colorado Avalanche Information Center's website or on their Facebook page.