SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 19, 2014—Wolf Creek ski area has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and fined $14,000 for failing to mitigate avalanche danger in the death patroller Colin Sutton last March 4, while Sutton was working outside the resort boundary.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 19, 2014—Wolf Creek ski area has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and fined $14,000 for failing to mitigate avalanche danger in the death patroller Colin Sutton last March 4, while Sutton was working outside the resort boundary.

OSHA's citation, which was obtained by The Denver Post, cited Wolf Creek because Sutton and other patrollers lacked "effective and continuous" communication with patrol headquarters at the ski area and were unable to report the emergency in a timely manner.

This was OSHA's second citation of Wolf Creek for an avalanche death in the past four years; the first came in 2010, after patrol director Scott Kay died while conducting inbounds avalanche control work.

Wolf Creek owner Davey Pitcher is facing three misdemeanor charges over Sutton's death. The Forest Service has alleged that Wolf Creek was not permitted to conduct avalanche control work outside its boundary. Each of the misdemeanor charges is punishable by a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail.

Pitcher pleaded not guilty to the charges, and a trial has been set for Dec. 17.

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