Avalanche in Colorado buries, kills 2 backcountry skiers

Two backcountry skiers in Colorado person died aft they were caught successful an avalanche successful nan southwestern portion of nan authorities complete nan weekend, officials said.

The skiers had been reported overdue from a travel adjacent Vallecito Reservoir, located astir 24 miles northeast of Durango, nan Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) said.

Search and rescuers successful La Plata County launched a chopper successful hunt of nan missing skiers. Just earlier midnight, nan chopper recovered nan tract of an avalanche pinch tracks starring into it but not out, nan halfway said.

Both skiers were recovered buried nether astir 4 feet of avalanche debris, nan halfway said successful its preliminary report.

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The avalanche occurred adjacent Vallecito Reservoir, astir 24 miles northeast of Durango connected Saturday. (Colorado Avalanche Information Center )

"Our deepest condolences spell retired to nan family and friends of nan group progressive successful this tragic accident," nan halfway said.

Search and rescuers recovered tracks starring into nan avalanche debris but nary starring out, officials said. (Colorado Avalanche Information Center )

CAIC unit visited nan tract of nan slide connected Sunday and was expected to people its last study connected nan avalanche this week.

Both skiers were recovered buried nether astir 4 feet of avalanche debris. (Colorado Avalanche Information Center )

A full of six group person now been killed successful avalanches successful Colorado this snowfall season. Seven group died past year, according to nan avalanche center.

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Over nan weekend, astir of nan Colorado upland ranges saw sizeable (level 3) and mean (level 2) avalanche conditions, FOX31 Denver reported, citing CAIC data. 

Ethan Greene, head of nan Colorado Avalanche Information Center, told nan outlet that astir fatal accidents hap successful those mid-level conditions.

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"Most of nan fatal accidents successful Colorado hap successful those mid-levels of nan threat scale, mean aliases considerable," Greene told nan outlet. "The astir vulnerable for america are triggered from group doing backcountry recreation." 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.