Summit County Citizens Voice

A band of bighorn sheep clambers around on a steep slope near Loveland Pass Tuesday. PHOTO BY BOB BERWYN. Click on the image for a full-size view.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Expect another great day for skiing today in the high country, with temperatures climbing up to the freezing mark, and light to moderate winds over the next few days.

The backcountry avalanche danger remains high on steeper slopes above treeline. After Tuesday’s close call on Loveland Pass, forecasters with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center are warning skiers and snowboarders to specifically avoid slopes steeper than 34 degrees above treeline facing north to southeast.

“In these areas, the avalanche danger is rated high and human-triggered slides are likely,” the center’s forecasters warned in their Dec. 16 bulletin.

Along with Loveland Pass, another area of concern is the backcountry above East Vail, which turned deadly last year in the early season.

See photos of some of the Loveland Pass area slides here.

Check here for the avalanche center’s list of this year’s early season accidents and reports from last year’s trouble spots.

Reviewing reports about avalanche accidents shows a pattern that can educate backcountry travelers on how to avoid the same mistakes that led to serious consequences for others.