Wife yells for help as she digs husband’s body out from avalanche, Colorado officials say
A woman’s husband missed a scheduled check-in with her while skiing alone in Colorado’s backcountry, so she set out to find him herself, officials said.
She notified the Ouray County sheriff that he was overdue, drove out to the mountain where he was skiing and snowshoed to the slope he intended to ski on Red Mountain Pass on Jan. 7, according to a Jan. 16 report on the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
She spotted an avalanche on the slope, initiated a transceiver search and immediately acquired a signal, the report said. She pinpointed him with her avalanche probe and yelled for help as she started digging through 3 feet of debris his body was buried under.
Backcountry skiers and rescuers from Ouray Mountain Rescue Team helped dig out her husband’s body, officials said. He was a former member of the team from 2010 to 2017, the rescue organization said on Facebook.
“The Ouray Mountain Rescue Team is deeply saddened and continues to grieve the tragic loss of our former team member, Don Moden Jr., who died in an avalanche on January 7, 2025, on the northwest flank of Red Mountain No. 3,” the rescue team said on Facebook. “Don was a dedicated member of our team from 2010 to 2017, during which he made lasting contributions to both our team and the broader community. His exceptional backcountry skills, athleticism, and meticulous attention to detail as the team’s Equipment Officer set a standard we continue to honor.”
A photo shows Moden belaying on an icy slope and holding what looks like an avalanche beacon tracker up to his ear during a mission.
“Affectionately known as ‘The Don,’ he left an indelible mark on our team, not only through his expertise but also through the camaraderie and friendship he brought to every mission,” the organization said. “Our hearts are with Don’s family and friends during this difficult time. He will forever remain in our thoughts and in the history of our team.”
Moden was wearing an avalanche airbag backpack that was “armed and functional,” but hadn’t deployed it during the avalanche, officials said in the report.
He was supposed to check in with his wife at the end of his ski day, and may have been buried for more than four hours before she arrived, the report said.
What to know about avalanches
Avalanches happen quickly and catch people by surprise. They can move between 60 and 80 mph and typically happen on slopes of 30-45 degrees, according to experts.
Skiers, snowmobilers and hikers can set off an avalanche when a layer of snow collapses and starts to slide down the slope.
In the U.S., avalanches are most common from December to April, but they can happen at any time if the conditions are right, National Geographic reported.
At least 6 people in the U.S. have died in avalanches this season as of Jan. 16, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
People heading into snow should always check the local avalanche forecast at Avalanche.org, officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, and have an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel ready.
“Emergency services are usually too far away from the scene of an avalanche, and time is important,” Simon Trautman, a national avalanche specialist, said. “A person trapped under the snow may not have more than 20 or 30 minutes. So, in a backcountry scenario, you are your own rescue party.”
If an avalanche breaks out, it’s best to move diagonal to the avalanche to an edge, Trautman said.
“Try to orient your feet downhill so that your lower body, not your head, takes most of the impact,” officials said. “You may also get into a tight ball as another way to protect your head.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 2:28 PM with the headline "Wife yells for help as she digs husband’s body out from avalanche, Colorado officials say."
