Two snowmobilers were killed by an avalanche in northern Colorado, officials said Sunday.
The snowmobilers were riding on the eastern side of Mount Epworth in Grand County, Colorado, when an avalanche struck them around 2:15 p.m. Saturday, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) reported.
Rescuers recovered the body of a 58-year-old man Saturday afternoon, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a press release. He was declared dead at the scene after first responders performed resuscitation efforts. Rescuers were initially unsuccessful in locating the second snowmobiler, and their search ended Saturday as the weather worsened.
A large group of rescuers and emergency personnel gathered Sunday morning and found the body of the second victim, a 52-year-old man, at around 11:00 a.m., the sheriff’s office reported in a second press release. The 58-year-old had been wearing an avalanche transceiver that helped guide first responders to his location, but the 52-year-old had not, according to the CAIC.
The county coroner has not released the victims’ identities at the time of writing.
“Unfortunately, this is the second fatal avalanche that we have experienced this season in Grand County. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims,” Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin said in one press release. (RELATED: Avalanche Buries Two, Kills One In Colorado)
“We encourage those recreating in our backcountry to regularly monitor the conditions and follow the advice of our avalanche professionals at Colorado Avalanche Information Center [CAIC],” Schroetlin added.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the people involved in this tragic accident. CAIC staff will visit the accident site on Sunday, January 8, and we will publish a final report in the next week,” the Colorado Avalanche Information Center wrote in its accident summary.