By Shannon Lukens.
A skier triggered a snowslide Saturday in Christmas Tree Bowl, which is an area that is not open at Steamboat Resort. That skier told a lift operator, who reported it to Steamboat Ski Patrol. No one was hurt but ski patrollers didn’t know that so they had to go over to the closed area to make sure no one was caught in the slide. This put the patrollers at risk. Here’s Steamboat Resort spokesperson Loryn Duke.
“Not only is the terrain unstable for anybody who may consider going into a closed trail, but you’re putting patrol at risk when they have to be in that area. You’re preventing the necessary work that patrol needs to do in order to open that area. And, the really worse-case scenario is that you’re potentially creating tracks or somebody who is not as knowledgeable as you to think that it’s OK to ski and ride in that terrain.”
Duke says they do not know who went out of bounds and caused the snowslide because the lift operator did not get his name. But she says there will be serious consequences if anyone else ducks a rope or goes out of bounds and they are caught.
Video from Steamboat Ski Patrol about Trail Safety
More on the Story — A skier in closed terrain caused a slide today at Steamboat Resort
Colorado Avalanche Information Center says there is an Avalanche Warning in the Steamboat Springs area, including the Park Range and Elkhead Mountains through 5 p.m. this Monday. It’s because of the heavy snowfall we have received that is falling over a weak snowpack. The CAIC says backcountry travel is not recommended in avalanche terrain as “it will still be easy for people to trigger avalanches large enough to kill them.”
“Heavy snow and strong winds are resulting in very dangerous avalanche conditions. Avalanches will release naturally, especially on easterly slopes near and above treeline. Backcountry travelers can trigger large, wide, and dangerous avalanches that break into the snowpack two feet deep or more. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended during this time.”
More from Colorado Avalanche Information Center
Yampa Valley Regional Airport continues to be one the busiest spots in Northwest Colorado. There were 38 nonstop flights into the airport this weekend, with the total number of people flying into the regional airport in Hayden at 5,027 this weekend, with two flights canceled on Sunday. Just under 3,497 left out of Hayden this weekend.
Craig City Hall has new office hours, starting Monday. City Hall is open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and then Craig City Hall closes early on Fridays at 11:30 a.m. The new hours are for Craig City Hall and not Craig Police. New City Hall Office Hours
The City of Craig is accepting Christmas trees for solid waste customers in Craig at the City Road & Bridge Shop at 1710 Yampa Avenue starting Monday, Dec. 30. Drop off your Christmas trees between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 30-Jan. 3 (except for New Years Day), and Jan. 6-10. For questions, call 970-824-4463.
Christmas trees can be dropped off to be recycled at Emerald Park in Steamboat Springs.
More on the Story — Emerald Park has free Christmas Tree Recycling
Routt County Board of County Commissioners are meeting Monday. Routt County Sheriff Doug Scherar is on the agenda from the Sheriff’s Office with Detention Deputy Shannon Fatijo. Commissioners will also consider the purchase approval of two new trucks for the motor pool. Agenda
The Moffat County Board of County Commissioners meets Tuesday morning. Reports are from Finance, the Craig/Moffat County Airport, and Road & Bridge.
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.