Snowboarder killed in fourth avalanche death in the West this week

A 41-year-old woman was killed by an avalanche in this area near Silverton, Colorado, as she was snowboarding an area known locally as 'The Nose.' - (Courtesy Silverton Medical Rescue)

A snowboarder was killed in an avalanche in southwestern Colorado on Thursday, the fourth person to die in an avalanche in the western U.S. this week.

Sarah Steinwand, 41, of Crested Butte, Colorado, was caught in the avalanche in the backcountry near Ophir Pass north of Silverton. She was snowboarding an area known locally as “The Nose” when she was overtaken by the powerful snow slide, The Durango Herald reported.