Two dead as avalanche engulfs snowmobilers, Colorado officials say

An avalanche engulfed two snowmobilers near Winter Park, killing both, Colorado officials reported.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said the snowmobilers died after the avalanche at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan 7.

The avalanche took place on Corona Pass in the area of Mount Epworth and Pumphouse Lake, about six miles east of Winter Park, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Onlookers and rescuers dug out a 57-year-old Northern Colorado man and performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead, the sheriff’s office said.

An avalanche transceiver helped searchers find the man in the snow, the avalanche center said.

The second snowmobiler, who had no transceiver, could not be found before weather and safety concerns forced searchers to retreat, the sheriff’s office said.

Searchers found the body of the second snowmobiler, a 52-year-old man, at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec., 8, the sheriff’s office said in a later news release.

An initial investigation suggested the snowmobiles accidentally triggered the avalanche, the center said.

“Unfortunately, this is the second fatal avalanche that we have experienced this season in Grand County,” said Sheriff Brett Schroetlin in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims.”

A snowboarder died in a Dec. 26 avalanche that swept away four people near Berthoud Pass, McClatchy News previously reported.

Winter Park is a community of 800 people about 65 miles northwest of Denver.

This story was originally published January 8, 2023 at 9:42 AM with the headline "Two dead as avalanche engulfs snowmobilers, Colorado officials say."