SILVERTON, Colo. | Three backcountry skiers are missing after being swept up in a large avalanche in southwestern Colorado.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says the slide happened between the towns of Silverton and Ophir on Monday in an area locally known as The Nose. Four skiers were fully buried in the debris, and one of them was recovered with minor injuries.
A search-and-rescue team worked into the night Monday to find the remaining skiers and continued looking Tuesday morning. The avalanche was triggered on a northeast-facing slope near treeline at about 11,500 feet (3,505 meters) in elevation.
At least four skiers have died in backcountry avalanches in Colorado so far this winter, the last of which was in late December.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center listed the northern San Juan Range, where the latest slide happened, as being a “considerable” danger for avalanches, urging conservative decisions and caution when finding routes.
No other information has been released.