After Avalanche, Forecasters Urge Caution in Colorado Backcountry
Spring has arrived and the backcountry beckons, but the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), after an accident north of Ophir, still wants skiers to think about avalanche danger.On May 29, a skier was caught by an avalanche in Gold King Basin, Colorado, according to an accident report. They and their partner, a snowboarder, had begun descending an east-oriented face. First, the snowboarder rode downhill. Then, the skier followed, triggering a wet loose avalanche. Thankfully, the incident ended without injury. The skier quickly freed themself from the avalanche's path, avoiding being dragged through rocks. But the avalanche did carry a timely reminder.'Just because it's nearly June doesn't mean avalanche season is over,' the CAIC wrote in a recent social media update. 'We refer to avalanche years—not seasons—because avalanches can happen any time of year where there's snow on steep slopes.'Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates.
The CAIC recommended that backcountry travelers begin and end their days early. As the sun melts the snow, the risk of wet loose avalanches can increase.The CAIC also wrote that skiers and snowboarders should move off steep slopes whenever there's a rain-on-snow event, track overnight temperatures, and favor areas with deeper snowpacks.Today, across the CAIC's forecast regions throughout Colorado, the avalanche danger is low.According to the CAIC's forecast discussion, a significant number of the recently reported avalanches across Colorado have been small, wet slides. The avalanches mostly haven't been large enough to bury a skier or snowboarder, but they could sweep someone off their feet, which could be a problem, depending on the terrain hazards. As the lift-accessed ski season winds down in Colorado and elsewhere, the backcountry is becoming the only place skiers and snowboarders can continue chasing winter.For those who'd prefer to ski while avoiding the risk of slides, though, a few options still remain. Arapahoe Basin, Colorado, plans to remain open until June 8, making it the state's latest open ski area. In California, Mammoth Mountain intends to spin the lifts through June 15. Timberline Lodge, Oregon, as is tradition, will stay open deep into the warmer months. And, in Wyoming, near the Montana border, North America's only ski area that exclusively operates in the summer, Beartooth Basin, is just starting its season.After Avalanche, Forecasters Urge Caution in Colorado Backcountry first appeared on Powder on May 30, 2025
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Slope angles ranged from 38 to 40 Accident Summary: Here Number of Persons Involved: 2Fatalities: 1User Type: Ski tourersTrigger: UnintentionalSize: 2.5Details: Two skiers were staying at a backcountry hut near Ophir Pass. Skier 1 was a 40-year-old male. Rider 2 was a 41-year-old female. The pair elected to ascend and ski a steeper slope after taking safer laps on lower terrain. Skier 1 triggered an avalanche almost immediately after descending the slope. He was able to escape to the skier's right but Rider 2 was caught, buried, and killed. The avalanche was a soft slab with a crown that was 2-3 feet deep and spread up to 1,300 feet wide. It ran 1,400 vertical Accident Summary: Here Number of Persons Involved: 1Fatalities: 1User Type: Pow SurferTrigger: UnintentionalSize: 2.5Details: A lone pow surfer (snowboarding without bindings) was recreating by himself bear Berthoud Pass. The rider is believed to have triggered a large avalanche above trees and rocks. 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Wyoming's Teton Range gets a lot of hype, and rightfully so. As one of the cradles of North American alpine climbing, ski mountaineering and, more recently, mountain running, these jagged peaks hold significance in many a mountain traveler's heart. Most skiers think of Jackson Hole as the place to go skiing here, but ask any local where they've had the deepest days of their life, and they'll likely tell you it was at Grand sleepy mid-size resort, located on the west side of the Tetons, stands in stark contrast to the luxury vibe at Jackson Hole. Instead, it's still about the skiing here, with over 500 inches of annual snowfall, massive acreage and a huge variety of terrain and long, fall-line runs that somehow just don't get tracked out. The local vibe remains warm and welcoming, focusing on a no-frills approach to having a good time powder skiing. Perhaps the best part? The views. From the viewing deck on the summit of the Dreamcatcher lift, the high peaks of Grand Teton National Park feel like a stone's throw away. Location: Alta, Wyoming Acreage: 2602 skiable acres Vertical Drop: 2270 feet Number of Lifts: 6 Terrain Breakdown: 10% beginner, 45% intermediate, 30% advanced, 15% expert Most Difficult Terrain: Bobcat Average Annual Snowfall: 500+' To put it simply, Grand Targhee is one of the best places to go for skiing deep inbounds powder. Thanks to a favorable location on the snowy side of the range, the resort frequently receives huge amounts of snowfall. Like double-digit huge, many times a year. Time your trip with a storm like this, and you're in for some of the deepest turns of your life. Targhee's huge variety of terrain also plays nicely with deep snow. Sure, there are plenty of steeps, but most of the mountain offers wide-open lower-angle slopes, perfect for surfing through the deep stuff. Some favorite intermediate runs include dropping off the summit into Wild Willie and Crazy Horse, soaking in the views of the Tetons on Rolling Thunder, or carving down any of the groomers below the Blackfoot lift. If you're looking for more of a challenge, test your big-mountain skills on the North Face of Peaked Mountain. Drop into Bobcat (used annually as a freeride comp venue) and navigate mandatory airs, huge exposure and some seriously steep skiing, or go for a short hike up to Mary's Nipple and slash turns through the steep trees. If it hasn't snowed in a few days (a rare occurrence here) and the sun's out, Targhee is an excellent place to cruise down some perfectly manicured groomers. Thanks to the predominantly west-facing aspect, the groomers tend to get softer and better as the day progresses, meaning there's no need to get up early to chase a year-round destination, there are multiple lifetimes of things to do in the area. Surrounded by not one, but two national parks, plus a wilderness area and a national forest, the main attraction here is the mountains. Outside of the resort skiing in the winter, rent a fat bike or Nordic skis and cruise up Teton Canyon to soak in the views of the Tetons high above. The backcountry skiing in the area also happens to be world class, with easy access from Teton Canyon and Teton Pass. Both Driggs and Jackson offer numerous options for backcountry skiing guide services and gear rental. Finally, it might tickle your fancy to drive an hour north to West Yellowstone, rent snowmobiles and motor into Yellowstone National Park to view geysers and winter wildlife and take in the beauty of America's oldest National the summer, those same areas come alive with mountain bikers, hikers and flyfishing enthusiasts. Teton Valley is home to hundreds of miles of singletrack for all ability levels. The calm waters of the Teton River are a great place for a mellow float on a paddleboard, raft, or tube, or link up with a local flyfishing guide and see if the trout are being a world-class ski area should be worthy of enough praise on its own, Targhee really comes alive in the summer. Featuring one of the largest downhill mountain bike parks in the Mountain West, plus almost 50 miles of manicured XC trails, Targhee is a haven for mountain bikers, hosting races and bike festivals throughout the summer. If you're not a two-wheeled enthusiast, Targhee still has you covered with 8+ miles of hiking trails, plus plenty of events all summer long, including a Cirque Series running race and the world-famous Targhee Bluegrass to its high elevation and massive amounts of snowfall, Targhee's season starts earlier and ends later than most. If you're looking for a classic powder skiing experience, you'll most likely find that during the seemingly endless storm cycles that tend to bury the range in mid-February and early March. The 'Ghee is also a primo place for slushy spring skiing, so don't hesitate to come back again in April to score some late-season corn turns. Tucked away high on the western slope of the Teton Range on the Wyoming border, Grand Targhee is only accessible by driving through Idaho. If you're looking to stay as close as possible to the powder, the resort offers on-mountain lodging with some basic amenities like a spa, pool and hot tub. Though a bit dated, the base area lodging is in the process of a multi-year upgrade. Alternatively, there are a few small hotels and bed and breakfasts (plus plenty of vacation rental homes and AirBnBs) in Teton Valley. If you're looking for more options, the town of Jackson is about an hour's drive away and offers the full gamut of accommodations from five-star resort hotels to budget motels. Targhee is also one of the few resorts we've found that still offers parking lot camping options for skiers with camper vans or RVs. You can even rent an approved portable firepit to use in the parking lot for the full campfire is located a few miles from Alta, Wyoming, high above Teton Valley, Idaho. The closest major town is Driggs. You'll likely want a car to get around, but there are a few public bus lines and resort shuttles that connect the resort to the town of Jackson Hole and the Jackson Hole Airport. If you're staying in Jackson and take the GTR shuttle, you'll even get a discounted lift ticket. On-mountain dining is focused in the small base area, and the crown jewel is undoubtedly the bustling Trap Bar. Try out the local-favorite Wydaho Nachos, paired with a pint of local beer. If you're staying on the mountain and want to mix things up a bit with a fancier meal, don't skip out on the Powder Cache restaurant next door. Down the valley, Driggs has a much larger selection of excellent food, including the bakery and coffee at Wydaho Roasters, great pan-Asian fare at Teton Thai, or pub food at the Royal Wolf. Targhee is one of the few resorts where true powder skis make sense as a daily driver, so if you're coming to visit during a storm cycle, fat powder skis are certainly your friend. Temps can get pretty cold, especially during storms (shoutout to low-density powder), but the dry air and cold, dry snow tend to mean it doesn't actually feel that cold. Gore-Tex outerwear and an extra layer are always a good To Ski and What To Do at Grand Targhee first appeared on Powder on May 31, 2025
