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Colorado leads the nation in avalanche deaths

Posted at 5:06 PM, Feb 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-02 21:01:25-05

For Dawn Wilson who is a member of the volunteer Alpine Rescue Team, the last two days in the back country have been quite.

“I think a lot of people are staying inside and staying warm,” said Alpine Rescue Team member, Dawn Wilson.

It has been a busy year for the rescue team. Two people have died in avalanches in Colorado and Dawn responded to one of those rescue missions.

“Any time that you hear on the radio that someone is found and they won't be walking home to family that night is a sad situation," said Wilson.

Avalanche deaths are becoming more prevalent in Colorado than any other state.

In the last 65 years Colorado has had nearly as twice as many avalanche deaths as Alaska. In fact, Colorado leads the nation in avalanche deaths.

Experts say it’s due to the easy accessibility of the mountains.

Experts advise that if you must venture out in the country, always be go prepared and check a head for avalanche danger spots.

"If you have the knowledge and you look at a slope and it looks like it’s not safe, don't be tempted, it's not worth getting injured, it's not worth death" said Wilson.

Dawn says to always let someone know where you’re headed and never take off without a beacon.

If we don't know where you're missing and we don't know where you are and how to find you, there is no search in the search and rescue part of what we do,” said Wilson.