Log In


Reset Password
News Education Local News Nation & World New Mexico

Snowmobiler killed in avalanche near Wolf Creek Pass

Another member of group partially buried
A Colorado Department of Transportation crew brings down snow above U.S. Highway 550 north of Silverton Tuesday during avalanche mitigation work on Red Mountain Pass. Avalanche danger was high on Tuesday after several feet of snow in the Southwest Colorado mountains.

A snowmobile rider died in an avalanche Tuesday afternoon in the Lost Mine Creek drainage area near Wolf Creek Pass, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

It was the third avalanche death in Colorado this winter, the center said.

Rio Grande County Coroner Rusty Strohmayer identified the victim as David Smith, 23, of Kimball, S.D., according to the Denver Post.

He was with three other snowmobilers who departed from the Tucker Ponds trailhead east of Wolf Creek Pass, and were in the Lost Mine Creek drainage between Campo Mollino and Park Creek about 4 p.m. when two of the riders were caught in an avalanche, the center said on its website. The second rider was partially buried and was rescued.

The other riders left to get help and called 911 about 6 p.m., the center said. Local riders, personnel from the Wolf Creek Ski Area, and Mineral and Rio Grand County sheriff’s offices assisted in the search and rescue effort.

The avalanche danger in the backcountry was high on Tuesday after several feet of snow was dropped in storms over several days.



Reader Comments