Veteran ski patroller killed when avalanche swept her over cliff at Snowmass ski area
Patricia Hileman was 26-year ski patrol veteran
Posted: 01/01/2013
Last Updated:
141 days ago
ASPEN, Colo. - An off-duty ski patrol member killed by an avalanche at the Snowmass ski area died from blunt force trauma her chest and back, the Pitkin County Coroner's Office said Monday.
The coroner ruled the death of Patricia Hileman, 49, of Snowmass Village, was an accident.
Hileman was a 26-year veteran of the Aspen Skiing Company's ski patrol.
She died Sunday when the avalanche swept her over a cliff in the Ship's Prow Glades area, which is a permanently closed area at the Snowmass resort.
It was the first avalanche death in Colorado this ski season.
A team from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center planned to visit the area Monday.
The avalanche danger is high in much of western Colorado after several rounds of storms.
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