Avalanche — Animas River Basin, Colorado
March 19, 2023 · NOAA Storm Events record
Direct deaths
1
Direct injuries
2
Property damage
—
Area
Animas River Basin
Event narrative (NOAA)
Three backcountry skiers triggered and were buried or partially buried by a large avalanche in the Maroon Bowl outside of Aspen Highlands Ski Area on a steep northwest-facing slope. The avalanche occurred at an elevation of 11500 feet and ran for 2000 vertical feet. Two skiers were able to extricate themselves, but the third perished under the weight of the snow and debris.
Other notable avalanche events in Colorado
S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet · April 20, 20135 killedWest Elk And Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park / W Lake / W Chaffee / Wc To Ec Gunnison · February 6, 19993 killedNorthwestern San Juan Mountains · February 1, 20213 killedGore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys · March 13, 20072 killedS & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet · January 1, 20062 killedGore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys · March 17, 20002 killed
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.