Colorado avalanche kills 2 skiers

ASPEN, Colo. – Colorado authorities say two men died in an avalanche near Crested Butte this weekend.

The Mt. Crested Butte Police Department tells the Aspen Times that 27-year-old Owen Green, of Aspen, and 37-year-old Michael Goerne, of Carbondale, were reported missing Saturday night. A police statement says tracks were discovered leading into a fresh avalanche field, but no tracks were found exiting the slide area. Police say the conditions were too dangerous to conduct a recovery operation that night.

On Sunday, a team of six Crested Butte Search and Rescue members found the men’s bodies.

Friends say Green and Goerne had been training for the Grand Traverse, a 40-mile (64-kilometre) backcountry ski race across the Elk Mountains. The two men were partners in the race from Crested Butte to Aspen next month.