Three background skaters are missing after the big Colorado avalanche

Three background skiers are missing after being swept away by a major avalanche in the southwest Colorado.

The search for the skiers began Tuesday, a day after they went missing.

According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the slide took place Monday between Silverton and O’Brien in an area known as The Nose.

This picture is an overview of the crash site. The red line indicates the general path of the group, down the slope and then down the gully. (Colorado Avalanche Information Center)

Four skiers were completely buried in the rubble, and one of them suffered minor injuries, officials said.

A search and rescue team tried to locate the missing skiers Tuesday morning.

The avalanche triggered a northeasterly slope near the train at an altitude of about 3,505 meters.

There were seven skiers in the group. Four were captured, taken away, and completely buried in the rubble. — There were seven skiers in the group. Four were captured, taken away and completely buried in the rubble. (Colorado Avalanche Information Center)

Dangerous avalanche conditions in the area are affecting the search effort, and emergency responders may suspend the effort, San Juan County spokeswoman Dianne Caligos told The Durango Herald on Tuesday.

Groups triggered avalanches to help mitigate the danger, and natural slides occurred throughout the day.

Google Earth image of the avalanche area. The blue oval indicates the approximate location of the avalanche. (Colorado Avalanche Information Center)

Authorities did not identify the skiers trapped on the slide.

At least four skiers have died in previous background avalanches in Colorado so far this winter, most recently in late December, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center reported.

Winter blizzards hit northeastern America, closing vaccination sites

Elsewhere around the United States this winter, three people have died so far this winter in pinnacle avalanches, including two in Utah and one in Wyoming.

The Avalanche Information Center lists the San Juan Mountains north of Colorado, where the latest slide occurred, which called for a “significant” risk of avalanches and cautioned skiers to be careful when finding their way.

Post Views: 118