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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, February 20-22, 2019 B-7 The Park Record Aspen has suffered the brunt of fatal avalanches in Colorado this season State averages six avalanche deaths yearly SCOTT CONDON The Aspen Times The Aspen area has been hit particularly hard by avalanche tragedies this year with three of four fatalities in Colorado being residents of the Roaring Fork Valley. Owen Green, 27, of Aspen, and Michael Goerne, 37, of Carbondale, died Saturday when they were caught in a slide in the backcountry outside of Crested Butte in Gunnison County. Earlier this season, Arin Trook, 48, of Aspen, was killed when caught in an avalanche on Green Mountain, southwest of Aspen in Pitkin County. The other person killed in an avalanche in Colorado this year was Peter Marshall, 40, of Longmont, who was buried near Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan Mountains on Jan. 5. As tragic as it has been, the number of fatalities could have been even greater after numerous close calls in the Colorado backcountry, particularly in January, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. “We’ve had a lot more people caught and carried by avalanches this year,” Brian Lazar, deputy director and a forecaster with the avalanche center, said Monday. Earlier this month, the avalanche center’s Spencer Logan dug deeper into avalanche data for the state. “As of January 31, we have documented 57 people caught in 42 separate avalanche events,” Logan wrote on a blog post on the center’s website earlier this month. That included 32 people caught in slides in January alone. The 57 people caught are more than reported to CAIC in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2017-18 combined. As of the end of January, there had been five people who had been fully buried but survived avalanches this season. That included an employee of Aspen Powder Tours who was buried on the back of Aspen Mountain during a reconnaissance trip. He was dug out by a colleague and suffered only minor injuries. Lazar said Colorado has averaged six avalanche deaths annually over the past decade. CAIC research shows that by the end of January, there are typically two or three fatalities per season. “The differences in total seasonal fatalities over recent winters tend to appear in February or April,” Logan’s blog said. “Over the last few decades, most fatal avalanches occur in January, February or March. Accidents in the spring separate typically tragic from exceptionally tragic seasons.” The deadliest winter for avalanches in Colorado was 199293, when 12 people were killed. The 2012-13 season was right behind with 11 fatalities. Nothing about the Colorado snowpack this year is wildly different from conditions in other winters, Lazar said. As is typical in the state, early-season snow in October didn’t melt off before full-fledged winter. The lower layers deteriorated and weakened. That made conditions susceptible to slides when above-average snowfall started dumping later in the winter. Breaks in between storms have allowed additional layers to weaken, Lazar said. That becomes a problem when loaded by new storms. The explosion in the popularity of backcountry skiing suggests that more people are venturing out, Lazar said, and with more people come more problems. The avalanche center is confident of the accuracy of its statistics on fatalities, but it only knows about other incidents when they are reported. Lazar said it is likely that the number of people who were buried but survived slides is higher than CAIC is able to report. “It could be more are being caught in avalanches this year,” he said. The avalanche center staff keeps seeking additional ways to get the word out when conditions are dangerous. It posted a special note on its website prior to Presidents Day weekend. “Over the last 10 years, February is the single-most dangerous month for avalanches in Colorado,” the notice said. It noted there had been 15 fatal avalanches during the month over the past decade, with four deaths between Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day. “Historically, this weekend has been a dangerous period for avalanche accidents,” the website said prior to the weekend. “We would like to break the pattern.” That made the fatal accident involving Green and Goerne particularly tough on the CAIC staff, which Monday updated its preliminary report on Saturday’s slide. Green and Georne were traveling across a slope with a 37 degree angle, and the avalanche size relative to the path was rated as R3 (on a scale of 1-5). Officials estimate the two were hit just before 9 a.m. Saturday. “It weighs heavily on us,” Lazar said. Some of the petS at NuzzleS & Co. lookiNg for love These animals are available to be seen at the Nuzzles & Co. Adoption Center and Rescue Ranch. Our Adoption Center is open Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located in the Tanger Outlets in Kimball Junction. Our Rescue Ranch is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. The Rescue Ranch is located at 6466 N. Highview Road in Peoa. Carlotta Chuma Liesl Stanley Carlotta is a 6-year-old cattle dog mix. This sweet girl has just learned how to walk on a leash and is excited to go exploring! She is very sweet and loves to play with toys. Carlotta does well around cats and other dogs. Come and meet this sweet gal today! Meet Chuma, a 3-year-old cattle dog mix! This sweet girl started out very shy and timid, but she has now learned to trust people again. Once she trusts you, she will be your best friend forever! Chuma gets along well with other dogs and doesn’t mind cats. Liesl is a friendly 4-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who is looking for an active home where she can let loose and just have fun. She is a young, energetic girl who’s smart and loves to play. Liesl will need a confident owner who is willing to continue training with her. Stanley is a 4-year-old Coonhound mix. This handsome boy has a ton of energy and is super friendly. He needs a home without cats, but he does well with some dogs. A meet and greet would be necessary to see how he does in a home with another dog. Goliath Milo Miranda Priestly Pistol Annie Goliath is a quiet and reserved 2-year-old Domestic Shorthair. This handsome black cat enjoys laying in the sun and watching the birds fly by. Goliath is FeLV positive, so he will need a loving home where he is the only cat. This sweet boy likes to give kisses, too! Milo is a curious and outgoing short-haired tabby cat who is about a year old. He is a sweet boy who gets along well with other cats and likes to spend time with people. Milo is sure to be a loving and snuggly companion for his forever family! Miranda Priestly has been with Nuzzles & Co for a little over a year now. She’s twelve years old, and she is just as fabulous and sassy as her namesake! You can find Miranda basking in the window sill of Kitty Corner at our Adoption Center—lounging is what she’s best at! Pistol Annie is a 4-year-old tortoiseshell who needs a loving family to make her feel safe and boost her confidence. This shy girl has lots of love to give and just needs to find the right person with home to share it. A little TLC will help her sweet personality blossom! WaNted: voluNteerS These Organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words Holy Cross Ministries Holy Cross Ministries has openings for volunteers in both the School Readiness Program (3 to 5-year-olds at St. Mary’s White Pine Canyon, Mondays-Thursdays, 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m.) and in after-school homework help sessions at Parleys Park, Jeremy Ranch and McPolin Elementary programs which run 3-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays. School Readiness will benefit from persons willing to read and work at small group centers. Please contact Miriam Garcia (mgarcia@hcmutah.org) for more information on the School Readiness Program. Contact Franz Montalvo (fmontalvo@hcmutah.org) for information on the After-School Program. The Hope Alliance The Hope Alliance is looking for volunteers to process eyeglasses for the vision program. These eyeglasses will be distributed to some of the poorest communities throughout Peru, Guatemala, and other impoverished areas, supporting multiple vision campaigns. Volunteers can work at The Hope Alliance’s Park City office, Monday through Saturday, during office hours. For more information, please call 435-333-3334 or email info@thehopealliance.org. Kimball Art Center The Kimball Art Center seeks dedicated volunteers in a variety of areas at its largest fundraiser of the year, the 49th Annual Park City Kimball Arts Festival on Historic Main Street Friday, Aug. 3 – Sunday, Aug. 5. Volunteers will have the chance to give back to the community while enjoying an environment of art, cuisine and music. For more information about available positions, responsibilities and benefits, please visit our website at ParkCityKimballArtsFestival.org/volunteer or contact volunteers@kimballartcenter.org. Mega Genius Supply Store & IQ HQ Ready to make a difference in the lives of local students? The Mega Genius Supply Store & IQ HQ is looking for a few interested (and interesting) adult volunteers to support students in grades 2-12 with homework at our quirky, free after-school tutoring program. Hours are flexible. Tutoring happens Mon-Thurs after school until 5pm at 435 Swede Alley. Learn more by calling Stacey at 435-655-8252 or emailing ssayers@parkcityinstitute.org. Orientation and training required. Join us in this fun and fulfilling work. Find us on Facebook. The Mega Genius Supply Store & IQ HQ is a project of the Park City Institute. National Ability Center The National Ability Center is seeking volunteers for the Summit Challenge, Utah’s largest ride for cyclists of all abilities, which will take place Saturday, Aug. 27. The Summit Challenge is a fully supported road ride of 16, 52 or 102 miles through the scenic mountains and valleys of Summit and Wasatch counties. To sign up, visit: SummitChallenge100.org/volunteer. Volunteers interested in cycling, bike maintenance, archery, water sports, climbing and more are always needed, Mondays-Saturdays. Email volunteer@discovernac.org to get started. Nuzzles & Co. Nuzzles & Co. is looking for volunteers to help furry friends waiting for adoption. This local nonprofit needs people to walk dogs, socialize with the animals, and assist with pet care and cleanup. Shifts are available at the Tanger Outlets adoption center from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and at the Rescue & Rehab Ranch from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information contact Nuzzles & Co. at 649-5441 or visit nuzzlesandco.org. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit parkrecord.com/volunteers #1 Title Company 2018 Committed To NARI TROTTER STEFANIE BOWEN (435) 649-8322 theteam@parkcitytitle.com 1670 Bonanza Drive • Park Record Building |