One fatality and three injuries have resulted from an avalanche in the East Vail Chutes; the backcountry zone is located between Vail Mountain and Vail Pass, and is frequented by backcountry enthusiasts—the zone is not inbounds at the ski resort. Eagle County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Jessie Mosher says the slide happened at around 11:30 a.m. Mosher also indicated the three survivors did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

Current avalanche danger for East Vail is rated considerable. The CAIC notes slides in this zone are becoming harder to trigger, but when slides develop they are very large and dangerous. This morning’s avalanche report states: “Recent reports from backcountry skiers, local ski areas and helicopter pilots describe large destructive avalanches propagating across multiple start zones and stepping down to the ground, clearing out the entire seasons snowpack.”

Five people have died in avalanches in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana in the last two weeks.

The news comes as a shock to Freeskier; we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of those affected.