Don’t be fooled by melting snow in Colorado – as said by the Alpine Rescue Team, spring is a time in which “snow and rocks are in their seasonal race to the ocean.”

This risk of sliding snow during spring came into play during a Sunday afternoon rescue in which a small party triggered an avalanche while descending the northern face of 13,435-foot Grizzly Peak, located near Loveland Pass. While no one was buried by the slide, one person ended up with a severe knee injury that resulted in the need for rescue.

Another party on the mountain was able to call for assistance and relay information to rescuers from a higher point on the ridge, with two people accompanying the injured person while a rescue team mobilized.

Alpine Rescue Team, which operates out of Evergreen, responded, along with Clear Creek EMS and Flight For Life Colorado.

The rescue ultimately involved 24 personnel, six snowmobiles, and a tracked UTV, with approaches to the peak made from Loveland Pass and Stephens Gulch. A helicopter was also called in for assistance.

The rescue was successful, with a “brief window in weather” making it possible for Flight For Life Colorado to provide an aerial evacuation. The rescue subject was transported to receive additional medical care.

This situation puts two realities on display – first, that avalanche risk is still very present during the spring in Colorado and second, that even a seemingly ‘simple’ search and rescue mission involving the rescue of someone with an injured leg can involve a lot of rescue resources. It’s important to keep the latter takeaway in mind while planning adventures and working to manage risk in order to avoid putting additional strain on rescue resources.

Colorado’s search and rescue teams are happy to help those in need – it’s what team members signed up to do. That said, by avoiding risky scenarios where a need for rescue may be more likely, it can help save often-stretched rescue resources while also helping to keep rescue personnel out of dangerous terrain.

If you’re interested in supporting Colorado’s volunteer-powered search and rescue operation, one way to do so is through the purchase of a CORSAR card. It’s cheap, at only $5 per year.