Skier dies, 4 others rescued after avalanche in Colorado

One skier has died in an avalanche in the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado.

Ouray County Sheriff Dominic Mattivi said the victim was part of a group of five skiers that was skiing on Red Mountain Pass in the backcountry when the avalanche occurred Saturday.

The other four skiers were rescued.

Mattivi tells The Denver Post that it’s the first avalanche that he can remember in that part of the mountain range.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center expects avalanche danger to be higher in several areas, including Aspen, Gunnison, Grand Mesa and the San Juan mountains.

Forecasters predict the southern and central mountains will be hit hardest by snow Sunday into Monday.