5 snowboarders killed in Loveland avalanche ID’d

Authorities have released the names of five snowboarders who were killed Saturday afternoon in a backcountry avalanche on Colorado’s Loveland Pass.

Clear Creek County Sheriff Don Krueger identified the victims Sunday as 32-year-old Christopher Peters, of Lakewood; 32-year-old Joseph Timlin, of Gypsum; 33-year-old Ryan Novack, of Boulder; 36-year-old Ian Lanphere, of Crested Butte; and 33-year-old Rick Gaukel, of Estes Park.

A sixth snowboarder caught in the avalanche called for help after digging out of the slide, and the bodies were recovered several hours later. The victims all had avalanche beacons.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center warned skiers and hikers Sunday of potentially dangerous backcountry conditions after several inches of snow fell in the area earlier in the week.