Authorities helped by closing Route 6 in order to facilitate the search. According to initial estimation the slide was eight feet deep and 600 yards wide. The avalanche was so big that it travelled some 100 yards off U.S. Route 6.
However, there was nothing more to be done to save the snowboarders. Five of them were killed Saturday afternoon by the snow slide. All the snowboarders had avalanche beacons and their bodies were recovered by search and rescue crews only hours after the avalanche took place.
The sixth snowboarder survived after he was able to dig himself out of the deep snow and call 911. According to Don Krueger, Clear Creek County’s Sheriff, the condition of the person is unknown for the moment.
