Berthoud Pass Avalanche Leaves 2 People Possibly Buried

BERTHOUD PASS, CO — An avalanche Wednesday at Berthoud Pass in Grand County may have buried two people, authorities said.

Teams from the Grand County Search and Rescue, Flight for Life and the Winter Park Ski Patrol Dog Team were called for an avalanche with possible burials on Berthoud Pass, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office said. The pass is about 6 miles south of Winter Park.

The avalanche was reported in the Current Creek area near the “postage stamp” feature around 11 a.m. Wednesday.

"The initial report was that two people were possibly involved in the avalanche, this is unconfirmed at this time," the sheriff's office said.

According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, 16 people have been caught in avalanches this season. Ten were buried and six died.

That includes two recent deaths: a skier was partially buried and died in an avalanche Saturday near Steamboat Springs, and a backcountry snowboarder was buried in an avalanche and died in Pilot Knob on Thursday.