The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reported the first avalanche fatality of the 2024-25 season Tuesday, Jan. 7, amid a wave of avalanche accidents that have occurred since the snowy holiday period.

The backcountry skier was caught, carried and killed in an avalanche on Red Mountain Number 3 in the Northern San Juan Mountains, at a spot known locally as Bollywood, according to a preliminary report from the CAIC. The persistent slab avalanche occurred on a northwest-facing slope around 11,300 feet, the report states.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the skier’s family, friends, and community,” state avalanche officials wrote in the report.

The fatal avalanche accident occurred amid what has been a busy couple weeks for avalanche activity. Since Christmas, Dec. 25, state avalanche officials have received more than 10 reports of people — including backcountry skiers, a snowmobiler, a snowshoer and someone who entered the backcountry from a ski resort — being caught in avalanches.

“Anytime you get caught in an avalanche, it’s a bit of a close call,” Colorado Avalanche Information Center director Ethan Greene said.

On Sunday, Jan. 5, a snowshoer was critically buried — meaning they were buried over their head — also near Red Mountain Pass in the Northern San Juan Mountains, according to a CAIC report.

The snowshoer, who was traveling with a partner, were familiar with the area but were not carrying avalanche safety equipment and had not checked the avalanche danger, although they were aware of the dangerous avalanche conditions, the report states. The other snowshoer reportedly dug the buried snowshoer out with a snowshoe.

It is recommended anyone traveling in avalanche terrain carry an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel, and travel with a partner who is carrying the same gear and is trained to use it.

Yet another avalanche accident occurred on Sunday, as a group of skiers were lapping a route known as Sam’s Trees, also near the Red Mountain Pass area in the Northern San Juan Mountains, according to a field report. The slide broke above the skier after they made two turns into the gulley, but they were not buried, the report states.

On Jan. 3, a snowmobiler who was caught in an avalanche on Shrine Mountain near Vail Pass and was partially buried, with his head out of the snow, according to another field report. He was assisted by others in the area. Another field report describes a backcountry tourer who was also partially buried on Russell Peak near Berthoud Pass on Jan. 2.

On New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, a snowboarder who entered the backcountry through a backcountry access gate at Vail Mountain was caught in an avalanche but was not buried. The skier pulled his airbag just as an avalanche took him over a band of rocks, according to the field report for that incident. Another field report describes a skier who was caught in an avalanche on Peak 5 near Breckenridge that same day but was not buried.

In separate instances, backcountry skiers were also caught but not buried in avalanches on Mount Justice south of Marble and near Sam’s Trees in the Northern San Juans on Dec. 29 and Dec. 28, respectively, according to field reports.

A long dry spell over December led to a very weak snowpack, which then turned dangerous over the holiday period as storms loaded fresh snow upon that weak layer, Greene said. As of Wednesday, Jan. 8, avalanche danger remained at considerable or moderate throughout most of Colorado.

Greene said that while avalanche danger in parts of the state could drop to moderate in the coming days, it will be a “scary moderate” because signs of instability, like cracking and collapsing snow, will become rarer but the potential for large, deadly avalanches will continue to exist in areas.

Anyone heading out into avalanche terrain should check the avalanche forecast and ensure they have the proper training for the mission they are planning, Greene said.

The most up to date forecast can be found at Colorado.gov/avalanche.

“People that are headed out into the mountains, do not let your guard down,” Greene said. “Even though you’re going to start seeing less red on the map and eventually less orange, there’s still some pretty dangerous conditions out there.”