In December of 2020, a father and son were snowmobiling from Spring Creek to Elliott’s Ridge, in the far north of Summit County, when they came upon an avalanche with a mangled snowmobile in the toe of the debris field. The key was in it. It didn’t look good.

The two men called 911, and Summit County launched a full response. Flight For Life picked up a dog team and snow tech from Arapahoe Basin ski area and flew them to the top of the ridge above the slide. Another dog team left by vehicle from Breckenridge Ski Area, and a dog team at Beaver Creek Ski Area was put on standby. Twenty-three members of the Summit County Rescue Group left their homes or workplaces as quickly as they could to drive to the scene, some of them with snowmobiles. Two officers from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office also responded with snowmobiles, and Summit Fire & EMS responded with a paramedic. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center was notified and had a person in route, and the US Forest Service was notified.Read more ...