Crews Set Off Avalanches In High Country In Unusually Active Season
The last nine days in Colorado has forced seasoned avalanche forecasters out of retirement to help manage the historic slides.
www.cbsnews.comHere are the latest highlights on avalanches in Colorado, based on the most recent reporting I can access:
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The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) released a fatal avalanche report for an incident in Boss Basin near Ptarmigan Pass in Eagle County, occurring March 7, 2026. The rescue teams located the skier deceased at sunrise on March 8, after locating avalanche debris and ski tracks leading into the slide. The full report analyzes the terrain, snowpack, weather conditions, and rescue response. This is the most current fatal-accident detail CAIC has published for the 2025-2026 season so far [CAIC news summary of the March 7, 2026 incident].
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CAIC’s coverage also includes ongoing advisories and historical context about avalanche activity in Colorado’s backcountry, with emphasis on dangerous snowpack conditions during active storm cycles and the importance of checking current danger ratings before backcountry travel. For example, CAIC has issued advisories during MLK weekend in past years and has documented wide-ranging avalanche activity across northern and western Colorado during active storm sequences [CAIC News & Media historical advisories].
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In broader news coverage, Colorado outlets have reported on high levels of avalanche activity across the backcountry during intense storm periods, noting that hundreds to thousands of avalanches can occur in a season and that backcountry travelers should carry proper safety gear, be trained in avalanche response, and check current avalanche advisories before venturing out [CAIC advisories and mainstream reporting].
If you’d like, I can pull the latest CAIC report link, summarize the key factors (terrain, snowpack, weather) from the March 7, 2026 incident, and provide a quick safety checklist tailored to Santa Clara-area travelers planning trips to Colorado mountains. I can also set up a concise, up-to-date briefing with a single-page summary and the direct CAIC report URL.