Latest News – February 16

Avalanche West of Twin Lakes, Search Underway

The Lake County Office of Emergency Management reported that at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15 an avalanche was reported off Colorado Highway 82 involving seven people. The avalanche is located about one mile beyond the La Plata parking area, west of Twin Lakes.

Seven skiers were near the top of the ridge that activated the avalanche. According to the LCEOM Facebook Page, three people were taken to St. Vincent Hospital in Leadville with injuries including a broken leg, broken ankle and possible broken rib and collapsed lung. Two people walked to safety, unharmed. Two people were not yet accounted for last night. The search will continue at daylight today.

Lake County Office of Emergency Management has an active search underway due to an avalanche west of Twin Lakes, off Hghway 82. Photo:LCOEM.

The search area is approxiamtely 8 miles west of Twin Lakes Village (Lake County) on CO Hwy 82 about MM 70.  No traffic will be allowed beyond Mt. Elbert Lodge.  There is no access to Aspen beyond this point as the road is closed for the winter.  Similarly there is no access from the Aspen side as Independence Pass is closed for the winter season.

Per directive from the Lake County Sheriff, names of those involved in the avalanche are not being released at this time. The avalanche did not reach Hwy 82. A team from Colorado Department of Transportation will be on scene this morning to assess the situation, and to determine the safest way to clear the area. Experts from Colorado Avalanche Center and from Colorado Rapid avalanche deployment will be assessing safety of rescue operations at first light and develop a plan to search for the missing skiers.

Avalanche reported west of Twin Lakes, one mile beyond the La Plata parking area.

Leadville Loppet Celebrates 11 Years Next Saturday

By definition, a Loppet is “a large, long distance (approximately 35+ kilometer) cross country skiing event.” Of course, you can also come across the more humorous definition that it is a Swedish word meaning “bloody long ski race.” 

But in Lake County, the word Loppet means winter fun!

And this year marks 11 years of winter fun for The Leadville Loppet. This celebration of winter will take place next Saturday, Feb. 22 and is hosted by the Mineral Belt Trail Committee.

The race course meanders through rolling forested terrain in Colorado Mountain College’s Timberline Trail network and leads racers to the Mineral Belt. From there they climb and descend abandoned rail grades left from Leadville’s historic mining era, and return to CMC for the finish. The race is followed by soup and an awards banquet in the Climax Molybdenum Leadership building at CMC.

Loppet: A Swedish word meaning “bloody long ski race.”

The Leadville Loppet is open to Freestyle (skate) and Classic Skiing in the 10k, 22k, and 44k. Registration Fees: 44k-$50, 22k-$40, 10k-$25. You may register online: HERE. There will also be last minute registration the night before on Friday, Feb. 21, 4-9 pm at CMC in the KW room of the Climax Leadership Building. NOTE: There will NOT be any registration on race day!

The event is topped off with a fun 5k, complete with colorful costumes and lots of laughter! This year, the costumes will be Olympic themed, according to race organizer Vicki Koch of High Mountain Pies who is also a sponsor.Prize categories include: Youngest Finisher, Fastest Kids and Adults, Fastest Parent Carrying or Pulling a Child. There will be fabulous prizes and lots of fun!

Register for the 5k on Friday, Feb. 21 from 4 – 8 p.m. at CMC in the KW Room of the Climax Building  or on race day (for 5k only) starting at 8:30 a.m. on the CMC soccer field. Race starts at approxiametly 10:15 a.m. There is a $5 entry fee for the 5k.

The Leadville Loppet is a fundraiser for the Mineral Belt Trail, but additionally, the event serves to celebrate winter recreation in Lake County.  What better a way than to host a Nordic event?! 

 

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