Man Survives Avalanche While Snowshoeing in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains
A man snowshoeing in the San Juan Mountains survived a terrifying avalanche on Sunday, escaping with only minor injuries. The incident occurred north of Red Mountain Pass in Ouray County, where the man and his companion, a woman, were snowshoeing along County Road 31 toward the small town of Guston. The duo, familiar with the area from past winter trips, had planned to stick to the road.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) reported that the road crosses a short, steep slope in Champion Gulch, an area the snowshoers had never seen avalanche in during their 30 years of visiting. Despite this, the pair decided to cross the slope one at a time, given the current avalanche conditions.
The woman led the way, breaking trail and waiting on the other side of the slope for the man. As he made his way across, he triggered the avalanche. The man had just enough time to warn his partner to “run” before the avalanche swept him off his feet.
Though the avalanche was small, running only 100 vertical feet, the debris piled up deep in the gully and buried the man. He was left on his back, head facing downhill, but luckily, he kept his ski pole raised above the snow, signaling his location to his partner.
Neither of the snowshoers carried avalanche rescue equipment, but the man’s raised pole was crucial. He credited his waterskiing experience for his quick thinking in keeping the pole visible, which likely aided in air circulation and prevented him from losing consciousness.
The woman quickly navigated through the snow to her partner and used her snowshoe to uncover his head. It took about 15 minutes for her to expose his face, but he remained conscious throughout. She then called 911 using satellite communications on her phone and shouted for help. Two backcountry recreators, hearing her calls, arrived at the scene with shovels around 2:20 p.m. and assisted in fully digging out the man.
Both individuals walked half a mile to meet with Ouray County Search and Rescue. Despite being buried, the man only suffered minor scrapes and mild cold injuries, while the woman sustained minor hand injuries from digging.
This experienced pair, who had been recreating in the area for almost 30 years, demonstrated clear thinking and determination during a high-stress situation. Their quick actions helped them walk away with only minor injuries. The CAIC encouraged the couple to share their experience to help others avoid similar situations in the future.
The CAIC has been warning about avalanche risks this winter. Tragically, a backcountry skier was buried and killed in a separate avalanche in the San Juan Mountains on Tuesday, marking the first fatality of the 2024-2025 season.
