The avalanche hits Interstate 70 in Colorado. Photo / AP, Jacob Eastson
The avalanche hits Interstate 70 in Colorado. Photo / AP, Jacob Eastson
Authorities say a missing backcountry skier apparently died in a massive avalanche in southwestern Colorado.
The San Miguel Sheriff's Office says crews working with avalanche dogs found the local man's body in a slide believed to have occurred the day before near Telluride.
Yesterday, an avalanche dumped snow across asection of Interstate 70, covering some vehicles in snow. No injuries were reported in the incident between Frisco and Copper Mountain.
The Colorado Department of Transportation says it was a natural avalanche and not a controlled slide.
Because the risk of avalanches is high, sheriff's office spokeswoman Susan Lilly says crews had to wait for helicopters to drop explosives to trigger slides before ground crews could safely go in to search for the man.
Up to 1.2m of snow fell in some spot in the last few days.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Centre says the slide danger likely peaked yesterday but says the danger is still considered high today.
Three mountain pass roads in southwestern Colorado — Wolf Creek, Red Mountain and Lizard Head — were temporarily closed so crews could trigger avalanches and avoid natural slides.
