Skier Dies in Avalanche Despite Safety Gear

In a tragic incident in Colorado, Donald Moden Jr., a veteran skier and former member of the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team, was killed in an avalanche on January 7, 2025, near Red Mountain Pass. Despite wearing an avalanche airbag backpack that failed to deploy, he was buried for over four hours before being found by his wife using a transceiver. This marks the first avalanche fatality in Colorado's ski season, with the region experiencing weak snowpack conditions exacerbated by heavy storms. Meanwhile, in Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon, a skier was partially buried but unharmed by a soft slab avalanche on January 12. Avalanche forecasts in Utah remain moderate, urging cautious route finding due to persistent weak layers. Authorities in both states emphasize the importance of safety and preparedness as unstable snow conditions persist.