"Fatal Avalanche Claims Life in Colorado's San Miguel County"

A 67-year-old snowboarder, Peter Harrelson, died in a backcountry avalanche in southwest Colorado near the town of Ophir. His body was found after friends alerted emergency personnel when he didn't return home. This marks the first fatal avalanche in Colorado this year and the fourth nationwide in less than two weeks. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reported over 300 avalanches in the San Juan Mountains since January 1, attributing the danger to fresh snow on a weak existing snowpack. Several parts of the West, including Colorado, were at considerable or high risk of avalanche.