DENVER — A man died after he was caught in an avalanche Saturday while backcountry skiing with his father near Breckenridge, according to Summit County Rescue Group.
The pair were skiing in a backcountry area known as “The Numbers” on Peak 10 southwest of Breckenridge when they were both caught in an avalanche at about 1 p.m. Saturday, according to the rescue organization. The father was partially buried and his son fully buried.
The father managed to free himself, but could not find his son. He then skied out of the area to get cell phone reception and call for help. The father made that 911 call at 1:40 p.m., prompting a response from more than two-dozen rescuers.
The team formed a probe line to search for the son. His body was discovered by an avalanche rescue dog at 3:11 p.m. under about 3 feet of snow. Neither the son nor father has been publicly identified.
The pair had left Breckenridge Ski Resort through a backcountry access gate, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. It was not immediately clear whether they carried avalanche safety equipment.
The son’s death is the second avalanche fatality so far during the 2022-2023 season, according to the avalanche center. A snowboarder was buried and killed on Dec. 26.
During the 2021-22 season, seven people were killed in avalanches, and another 12 were caught and buried but survived.
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