CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. — A forecaster with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) was rescued from an avalanche Monday.
According to a CAIC Facebook post, the man was caught and partially buried in an avalanche on a northeast slope of Mount Bethel.
He made an SOS call, and two CAIC staff members and the Alpine Rescue Team came out to help him. The Alpine Rescue Team said after a rescue effort that lasted for several hours, he was handed over to Clear Creek EMS for a ride to the hospital late Monday night.
He was not seriously injured, according to CAIC.
"This incident highlights that even risk management planning does not eliminate the inherent risk of working in a backcountry environment," the Facebook post said. "To help mitigate this risk while still maintaining an effective working environment, CAIC has a field safety program that outlines procedures to increase staff safety while working in the field."
CAIC said the forecaster followed all safety protocols. He was fully aware of the current avalanche conditions, he had the proper training, and he was carrying appropriate safety equipment.
CAIC said its safety plan allows forecasters to travel alone in the backcountry doing lower-risk tasks such as data collection, snowpack observations and weather station maintenance.
The agency said it will investigate the incident so that they can learn from it. More information will be released about it "in the coming days," according to CAIC.
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