Colorado Avalanche: 2 Snowmobilers Killed In Pile-Up, 1 Survives

Two snowmobilers were killed in Eagle County, Colorado, after getting caught in an avalanche near Muddy Pass. The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the recovery of the two victims and confirmed their identities as Cesar Almanza-Hernandez, 30, and Dillon Block, 28, of Gypsum, Colorado. Rescue efforts had to be postponed initially due to weather conditions.

“We are so appreciative [of] the volunteers with Vail Mountain Rescue Group who worked on this very tragic incident,” Eagle County Sheriff James Van Beek said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of Mr. Block and Mr. Almanza-Hernandez.”

The avalanche occurred Saturday at roughly 9,800-feet on a mountain north of Vail, and was measured to be 650 feet wide and 120 feet tall. Both riders were swept into a gully and buried alive. A third rider, whose name has not been released, was able to dig himself out of the snow and contact authorities for help at a little before 5 p.m.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said the specific area that the riders were in had recently experienced a multiday storm, increasing the chances of an avalanche. Authorities have said that it is possible the men triggered the avalanche.

“The avalanche initiated in the old snow layers about three feet below the snow surface,” the center said in an Instagram post. “It stepped down to a weak layer near the ground, about five feet deep.”

The bodies were recovered Sunday.