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Ski-area owner faces charges

Forest Service says he operated outside authorized area
Pitcher

The owner of Wolf Creek Ski Area entered not-guilty responses Wednesday to five misdemeanor charges of unauthorized activity outside the ski area boundaries that resulted in the death of an employee.

Randall Davey Pitcher entered the pleas through his Denver attorney Frederic Winocur before U.S. District Court Magistrate David West.

Winocur told West a “measured approach” is being taken given the difficulty of the case brought by the U.S. Forest Service. Winocur believes a satisfactory disposition can be reached.

West scheduled a trial to start at 9 a.m. Dec. 17.

The five charges against Pitcher, 52, involve conducting avalanche training for Wolf Creek ski patrollers from five to 15 miles outside the ski-area boundaries.

Ski patrol members were transported by a commercial helicopter pilot to the training areas in which hand-held explosives were thrown to set off avalanches.

The unauthorized activities took place on Feb. 11 and March 3-4.

Ski patrol member Colin Drew Sutton, 38, was caught in an avalanche near Conejos Peak about 15 miles from Wolf Creek Ski Area.

The Valley Courier newspaper in Alamosa reported March 8 that Sutton was pulled from the avalanche by his partner and a second team of patrollers. He was airlifted to Mercy Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4:30 p.m.

Contacted at home Wednesday, Pitcher referred a request for comment to Winocur.

daler@durangoherald.com



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