The Memorial Day weekend may have marked the unofficial start to summer, but avalanches continue to pose a danger to backcountry travelers in Colorado.

Over the holiday weekend, a backcountry skier lost his skis but managed to escape without significant injuries after triggering a wet slab avalanche on Independence Pass near Aspen, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

A forecast published Monday, June 2, ranked the avalanche danger throughout Colorado at moderate and even considerable in southern parts of the state in the San Juan mountains near Telluride and Silverton. 

With the ongoing avalanche danger, Colorado Avalanche Information Center director Ethan Greene said the center is extending its forecast, which typically ends May 31, through at least Sunday, June 8.

“So we’re still issuing forecasts this week even though that’s not our usual approach,” Greene said. “We were seeing wet slide activity that was dangerous and the weather was looking like it was going to continue that problem.”

Skier escapes significant injury in Aspen avalanche

The solo backcountry skier triggered the avalanche Sunday, June 1, in an area known as the Fourth of July Bowl, Colorado Avalanche Information Center deputy director Brian Lazar wrote in a field report on the incident.

The avalanche swept the skier about 400 feet downhill, partially burying him with his head and one arm above the snow, the field report states. The skier was able to remove himself from the debris but was unable to find his skis, so he ended up descending on foot back to his vehicle, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Another group that had just skied a nearby line witnessed the avalanche around 12:15 p.m. and located the skier caught in the slide after he had unburied himself, according to another field report. The skier reportedly had “minor injuries” and the other group helped him down the mountain.

June outlook

With avalanche danger at moderate going into June, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s Monday forecast advised backcountry travelers to start and end their days early to avoid wet snow avalanches.

Since May 25, observers have reported over 40 avalanches to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. About 60% of those were larger, more dangerous wet slab avalanches, many of which occurred in “very steep and rocky terrain, usually with bare ground near the start zone,” according to the forecast.

“What people need to be thinking about is not that different from what they would typically for this time of year except that we have seen some pretty big avalanches so this is especially important,” Greene said. “Start early and end early.”

Anyone going into the backcountry should plan to avoid steep, rocky terrain, especially if overnight temperatures do not drop below freezing at 12,000 feet, or if the surface snow becomes wet and stops supporting weight, the forecast states.

Wet avalanches become more likely when the surface snow gets wet and loses cohesion. Anytime backcountry travelers are sinking more than a few inches into the snow, such as past their boot tops, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center suggests finding more supportive snow to travel on or avoid avalanche terrain altogether.

While avalanches are relatively small this time of year, the forecast states that even small avalanches can entrain enough wet snow to knock backcountry travelers off their feet and carry them into potential hazards like trees and rocks.

Colorado avalanche officials recommend carrying an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel while in avalanche terrain and traveling with a partner who also has the gear and is trained to use it.