A seasoned skier and former mountain rescue team member tragically lost his life in an avalanche on Colorado's Red Mountain Pass. Donald Moden Jr., 57, was skiing a familiar area known as "Bollywood" on January 7 when the incident occurred. His wife, concerned when he didn't check in, bravely located him using an avalanche transceiver, but sadly, he was already deceased.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) reported that the avalanche was substantial, measuring 800 feet wide and with a vertical drop of 400 feet. Moden was likely buried for over four hours. Despite wearing an avalanche airbag backpack, it unfortunately did not deploy.
The CAIC's investigation suggests Moden was on his seventh run of the day and was likely caught in the slide while skiing downhill. The depth of the burial prevented self-rescue. Although a highly experienced skier with 16 years of experience on Red Mountain Pass, and intimate knowledge of the specific area, the CAIC report indicates he likely didn't observe signs of unstable snowpack from his skiing the previous day.
This incident marks the first avalanche fatality reported in Colorado this ski season. While the CAIC has documented numerous instances of skiers and travelers caught in avalanches since November 9, the current season's figures aren't significantly different from previous years. This tragic event underscores the inherent risks of backcountry skiing, even for experienced individuals.
