Colorado Ski Resorts Continue to Monitor Ski Sites and Slopes

In recent years there have been reported fatal accidents and casualties which is not uncommon during peak seasons. At least 13 people died after crashes or heart attacks in Colorado’s ski slopes in 2024-25. Most casualties occurred on intermediate and beginner runs. This is a decline from annual fatalities in previous years.

The Colorado Sun surveys 16 county coroners for deaths recorded within the state’s 27 operating ski areas. Of the three women and 10 men who died following avalanches or ski accidents in these Colorado ski areas in the 2024-25, eight were skiers and five were snowboarders, with ages ranging from 20 to 76.

Resort representatives issue brief statements and condolences when asked by reporters about fatal accidents. The resorts stated the nature of the fatal accidents which were mainly caused by snow avalanche. Some occurred on the runs and on the slopes.

The National Ski Areas Association, a trade group representing 480 operating ski areas in the U.S., reports annual deaths at U.S. ski areas “resulting from sport-related trauma.” In the 2023-24 ski season, the association reported 35 deaths, which was below the 10-year average of 42 deaths. Of those 35 deaths, 28 were skiers and seven were snowboarders and most of them were riding intermediate slopes when they suffered fatal injuries. Only five of those 35 killed on U.S. slopes in the 2023-24 season were not wearing helmets.

The death rate per million skier visits reached a 10-year low of 0.58 in the 2023-24 season. Colorado’s death rate is significantly higher than the national average, with about one fatality for every million visits. Last year, when the state’s ski area reported 14 million skier visits, there were at least 15 deaths on Colorado ski slopes, close to double the national average in 2023-24. But again, those 15 deaths in Colorado in 2023-24 included six medical events that the industry does not consider when tallying fatalities.

Colorado coroners reported at least 15 deaths in 2023-24 and at least 17 deaths at ski resorts in the 2022-23 ski season, more than in previous seasons but less than the historic high of 22 fatalities set in the low-snow season of 2011-12. Resorts also do not discuss or report nonfatal injuries at ski areas, even though resort community emergency rooms treat thousands of injured skiers and snowboarders every season.

The ski resort industry’s safety strategies are anchored in personal responsibility more than transparency. The Skier’s Responsibility Code was overhauled in 2022 and outlines what rules skiers must follow on lift-served terrain. Recent industrywide safety campaigns include a focus on safety while riding lifts, skiing in terrain parks and avoiding suffocation hazards in deep, loose snow around the bases of trees.

Snowboarders are advised to put on their snow gears when out sliding in the slopes. Some accidents have occurred in the past as reported where skiers and snowboarders have been missing on Vail ski area at the start of a historic snowstorm that buried the resort with more than four feet of snow. Searchers spent 14 days scouring the ski area’s tree runs before any were found in a rarely traveled section of the mountain adjacent to an intermediate run. They were not wearing helmets and died of blunt force trauma to their heads and torsos.

3 skiers buried in ‘large avalanche’ found dead

They were buried in over 20 feet of avalanche debris following news from Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Three skiers have been found dead after being hit by a “large avalanche” more than two miles above sea level when they accidentally triggered it while backcountry skiing.

The incident occurred on Feb. 1 between the towns of Silverton and Ophir in Colorado when a group of seven skiers was traveling near an area locally known as “The Peak” and, according to a report from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), they accidentally triggered a large avalanche at an elevation of approximately 11,500 feet.

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Four people were caught up in the avalanche when they were carried and then buried by the tumbling ice and snow.

According to CAIC, the group of skiers were able to recover one of their missing members after digging them out. That individual suffered only minor injuries. Three other skiers are dead, according to San Juan County officials.

Eagle County and the town of Eagle said in a joint statement Wednesday. “The families are surrounded by loved ones, and we are asking everyone to respect their wishes as to when and how they wish to communicate with others.”

Looking across at the avalanche that caught four skiers on February 1, 2025. Their ski tracks are visible to the right of the avalanche, but where they entered the gully is obscured by trees. Further to the right you can see a second, smaller avalanche, that released sympathetically to the first as reported by Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

The deceased skiers were located because they were wearing beacons, officials said. They were buried in more than 20 feet of avalanche debris.

The victims, according to San Juan County, have been recovered, but “due to the rugged terrain and avalanche debris, a helicopter retrieval of the three skiers is now required.”

That, officials said, will happen next time weather allows the operation to continue. After the bodies are moved, the skiers will be transferred to the San Juan County Coroner’s office for positive identification.

Authorities were initially contacted and a search and rescue operations lasted into the night, said CAIC, and again continued Feb. 2 before being suspended due to “considerable” avalanche danger as well as the safety of the search and rescue team.

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“The avalanche danger in the Northern San Juan Mountain Zone is in ‘considerable’ hazard and due to the unstable snowpack, we are experiencing natural and mitigated avalanche activity,” said the Office of Emergency Management, San Juan County Colorado, in a statement on social media. “Increased avalanche activity caused hazardous conditions for the recovery mission. Therefore, the recovery mission of the three missing skiers was suspended until the avalanche conditions are stable and first responders can re-entry the dangerous terrain of the avalanche accident site.”

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Officials said people should continue to avoid the Ophir Pass area.

“Avalanche danger in the backcountry is always unpredictable regardless of your avalanche knowledge and skills,” said the Office of Emergency Management, San Juan County, Colorado. “It is critical to check the avalanche forecast and avalanche danger prior to venturing into the backcountry. Check for avalanche conditions, have your equipment of beacon, shovel, probe and make a plan for communications with your ski group.”