SAM Magazine—Dillon, Colo., Feb. 19, 2013—A group of 15 skiers emerged mostly without injury after they were caught by an inbounds avalanche last Saturday afternoon at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. One skier was evacuated by toboggan with a knee injury.

SAM Magazine—Dillon, Colo., Feb. 19, 2013—A group of 15 skiers emerged mostly without injury after they were caught by an inbounds avalanche last Saturday afternoon at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. One skier was evacuated by toboggan with a knee injury.

An Arapahoe Basin ski patroller was guiding a group of 14 skiers when the slide occurred in west Montezuma Bowl, the “back side” of A-Basin that opened five years ago. The terrain is inbounds but was closed to the general public. A-Basin had done extensive control work in the area in the days prior to the slide; Montezuma Bowl had opened to the public only last Wednesday (Feb. 13).

Arapahoe Basin and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center are conducting a joint accident investigation. A preliminary report said that the slide was triggered by one of the skiers, was 330 feet across at the crown, and ranged in depth from 16 inches to nearly 12 feet. The final report is expected to be available next week.

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