A backcountry skier was caught and injured in an avalanche near Breckenridge Ski Resort on Saturday, the sixth slide reported by Colorado recreationists this month.
The man was in a group of four skiers who left the resort at the Peak 6 backcountry access point just before noon, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
The group was planning to ski the K Chute of the Sky Chutes, which are steep avalanche paths on the west side of the Tenmile Range.
After the man triggered the avalanche, he was swept down the path for about 1,100 feet and lost his skis, according to an accident report from the CAIC.
He was able to escape the still-moving debris field as the avalanche slowed down and was helped off the mountain by the other skiers, one of whom skied down the mountain, found an extra pair of skis and hiked back up so the injured man could ski down.
He was treated for unspecified injuries at St. Anthony Summit Hospital in Frisco.
Two other groups came across the avalanche later that day and called 911 after finding the man’s skis as they descended.
Six other people have been caught in Colorado avalanches so far this month, including two climbers at St. Mary’s Glacier, but none reported injuries, according to the avalanche center.
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