A skier is dead and another was injured in an afternoon avalanche just outside of the Aspen Highlands ski area boundary on Sunday.
The two skiers were skinning uphill on skis when the avalanche broke loose around 2 p.m. off the top of Maroon Bowl, which about 7 miles from Aspen.
Both skiers were caught in the avalanche and were raked through the trees. Only one of the skiers was able to get out of the slide path. He was able to communicate with Ski Patrol via cell phone and climb back uphill and reach the skier who had been caught in the avalanche.
The skier caught in the slide hit a tree, ultimately dying.
The name of that skier was not released, but a release from the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office did identify that person as a current member of Mountain Rescue Aspen.
Terrain and conditions were deemed too unsafe to attempt a recovery effort on Sunday. Recovery efforts will continue Monday if weather and safety conditions allow.
The second skier was able to slowly ski out downhill on his own after sustaining several non-life threatening injuries.
The avalanche danger in Aspen and its surrounding areas is considered "high" at this time.
Aspen is a mountain town about 100 miles southwest of Denver.
