Avalanche deaths reach four in Western US this week

On Thursday, a snowboarder died in an avalanche near Silverton, Colorado, marking the fourth avalanche-related death in the western U.S. that week. The victim was snowboarding in the backcountry with a male skier who managed to escape the avalanche. Local staff noticed the avalanche and alerted rescuers, who found the snowboarder deceased in the debris. Earlier in the week, three other individuals died in avalanches—one near Lake Tahoe, California, and two in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. Avalanche danger in Colorado had been elevated due to recent winter storms, although conditions were reportedly improving in some areas. This incident highlights the ongoing risks associated with backcountry winter sports during heavy snowfall periods.