Rider injured in avalanche near Vail Pass
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- Created on Monday, 31 January 2011 13:26
- Written by Nathan
By JANICE KURBJUN, SUMMIT DAILY NEWS
A human-triggered avalanche on Uneva Peak, near Vail Pass, on Saturday afternoon resulted in waist-deep burial and injury of a rider in a party of four.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reports that the rider was covered for about 10 seconds but swam back to the surface to avoid full burial. Vail Mountain Rescue Group responded to the incident.
Eagle County Sheriff deputy Mark Pons said the rescue group responded with two teams totaling 12 rescue members and one Forest Service official. Teams reached the site at about 5 p.m. to retrieve the party, three of whom were able to leave on their own and the fourth was evacuated using a sled, Pons said. Adverse conditions made it impossible to use a helicopter for the rescue.
“The victim was conscious and breathing,” Pons said about her condition, adding that it appeared there were lower body injuries. “It was non-life threatening conditions to everyone's knowledge.”
The rescue was complete by 9 p.m.
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