Skier dies in avalanche near Lizard Head Pass

According to a report released by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, a skier has died in an avalanche that occurred on Sunday, March 3. A backcountry skier was reported overdue, which prompted a search. The preliminary aerial search revealed a large avalanche near Lizard Head Pass.

Due to the late time of the preliminary aerial search and a high avalanche risk, an on-ground search and rescue mission was postponed until Monday. On Monday, teams made up of San Miguel Search and Rescue and Telluride Ski Patrol scoured the area. Search dogs signaled that they had found a body and it was confirmed that a skier was buried several feet under the snow.

According to the official report, it appears as if the skier triggered the avalanche. Avalanche risk has been extremely high around Colorado this season with several big dumps of snow.

This is the 18th skier/snowboarder death of the season in Colorado.

Other skier/snowboarder deaths that have occurred in Colorado this season include an after-hours snowboarding death in Aspen, recent death at  Winter Park, an avalanche-related  death in Telluride, an  85-year-old that died following a Beaver Creek fall, two  avalanche-related deaths near Crested Butte, a death at an Aspen  terrain park, a  backcountry touring death in Aspen, a  death at Granby during night skiing, the  death of a skier on Quandary Peak, the death of a  71-year-old at Breckenridge, a recent  avalanche-related death, 21-year-old Daniel Giger ( accident at Breckenridge), 26-year-old Bill Brockmuller ( collision at Eldora), 53-year-old Daniel Mares of Arvada ( cardiac event at Keystone Resort), 66-year-old Durwood Marshall of Silverthorne ( cardiac event at Keystone Resort), and Bindu Sky Pomeroy ( accident in Vail backcountry).