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A-Basin snow safety director dies while hiking ridge in Aspen

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Created on Wednesday, 09 February 2011 03:06

Written by Nathan

                                                                                                          Arapahoe Basin

SUMMIT DAILY NEWS

Arapahoe Basin Snow Safety Director Leif Borgeson died Tuesday while hiking the ridge at the Aspen Highlands Bowl. Leif collapsed after the hike and was immediately attended to by Aspen Highlands patrol but was unable to be resuscitated.

Highlands Bowl is an inbounds expert ski run that is not served by a lift in the Aspen Highlands ski area.

Leif began working at Arapahoe Basin in 1990, joining the ski patrol after patrolling at Keystone for several years. He worked in various capacities, including medical coordinator, paramedic, snow safety supervisor and most recently as snow safety director. He has been instrumental in creating Arapahoe Basin's avalanche procedures and protocols and recognized nationally for his work on the study of avalanches in particular wet slab avalanches.

Between 2001-2004, Leif worked for the National Ski Patrol as their training director.

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