Jan 14, 2008 6:08 pm US/Mountain
Avalanche Danger Doesn't Deter Backcountry Skiers
DENVER (CBS4) ―
Four people have died in avalanches in Colorado this season. The latest was Saturday when a skier was buried in the East Vail Chutes in Eagle County. All the news of avalanches still hasn't stopped people from venturing into the backcountry.
Skiers and snowboarders say they love the freedom from paying for a lift ticket, and others say they like bringing their dogs. All of them say they love skiing or boarding in inches to feet of fresh powder on a regular basis and say they will continue to do so.
"We skied the resorts all weekend and now it's Monday morning. There hasn't been any fresh snow, so we thought we'd give it a try over here and take a few runs, and we'll probably be right and get some freshies," a skier at Loveland Pass said.
Some describe the feeling as riding on clouds.
"This is free too," another skier said. "So you are saving money. Not paying $80."
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reports that east-facing slopes are unstable. Higher slopes, where the wind has rearranged snow, weighing down the fragile slopes, are really dangerous.
Avalanche experts say people can safely be in the backcountry by being prepared and knowledgeable about the slopes and ready for any danger.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says the activity so far this season is really not out of the ordinary. They believe what's attracting the attention so far is the amount of deaths within a short period of time.
There are about five to six avalanche-related deaths a year in Colorado.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
