Colorado avalanche experts warn of “considerable” risk after slide near Beaver Creek

Colorado’s Avalanche Information Center says large avalanches are possible this weekend, including around popular skiing spots like Vail and Breckenridge, after a skier triggered one near Beaver Creek.

“Avalanche conditions are more dangerous than we’ve experienced all season (in) most mountain areas,” the agency wrote in a social media post. “Triggering large and dangerous avalanches during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend will be easy. Avalanches will be large enough to injure or kill you.”

The post included images of the slope near Beaver Creek where the center said a skier caused an avalanche that triggered a second. A statewide map maintained by the agency ranks the risk of avalanches in many areas as “considerable,” the third-most severe category.

A special avalanche advisory is also in effect through 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The center advises skiers to steer clear of slopes with an angle steeper than about 30 degrees and instead stick to areas below the treeline and to southerly slopes that don’t have a weak layer of snow.

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