2 skiers injured in avalanche near Silverton

Two backcountry skiers were injured when they were caught in an avalanche in the northern San Juan Mountains near Silverton over the weekend.

The Durango Herald reports five skiers were coming down the Eagle avalanche path above U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass when they triggered the slide Saturday morning. Two were caught and carried in the avalanche at an elevation of about 12,200 feet.

The slide spilled out onto the highway, causing a debris pile about 12 to 15 feet deep and up to 350 feet wide.

Mike Cooperstein with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center says “Surprisingly everyone walked away because it was quite a large avalanche. They just got themselves in the wrong spot.”

The names of the skiers and the severity of their injuries have not been released.