As reported in The Durango Herald, an avalanche on Monday claimed the life of a patroller at Wolf Creek.
Scott Kay, who had worked at the ski area for 16 years, was doing avalanche-control work when he became caught in a slide, said Bob Brammer, a close friend.
When the accident happened, he was working with professional ski patrollers who took every step to free him and resuscitate him, Brammer said. A medical helicopter was dispatched out of Farmington, he said.
Kay was skiing a routine avalanche-control route when he was caught in a slide, according to a news release from the Mineral County Sheriff's Office.
When Kay did not respond to radio contact, fellow ski patrollers responded to find him, the release said. They located him with avalanche beacons and probes. They dug him out of about 4 feet of snow.
Life-saving measures were started and continued for about 1½ hours.
The snows are coming; be careful on the mountain all.