Colorado ski deaths since 06/07 season
Click top right corner to view full-page map, click on icon on the top left for a full list. Zoom in to each resort to see where each skier death occurred on the mountain, and click on the skier/snowboarder icon to learn more about the participant who died on the slopes.
Colorado’s most popular ski resorts are carved out of our public lands. Breckenridge, Keystone and Vail Mountain — to name the big three — all pay millions in fees to the U.S. Forest Service for the privilege of operating highly profitable concessions there. Despite that, these businesses largely operate in secret when it comes to vital public safety information.
The Summit Daily produced “Whiteout,” a three-part series, to explore the systemic lack of transparency surrounding accidental ski deaths. Using coroner’s office documents across 16 counties, we were able to piece together a database of 137 skier deaths over the past 10 years. The information shines new light on the nature of these tragedies.
Skier who died Sunday at Quandary Peak identified
January 15, 2019 — The skier who died after an accident on Quandary Peak on Sunday has been identified as 22-year-old Peter Jacob Wing of Denver, according to Summit County Coroner Regan Wood. Wood said that the manner of death was accidental and caused by blunt force injuries suffered
Backcountry skier died Sunday on Quandary Peak
January 13, 2019 — A backcountry skier died Sunday after being critically injured at about 13,400 feet elevation on Quandary Peak. He has not yet been identified. The Summit County Rescue Group responded to the call at about 11:20 Sunday morning. They used a Flight For Life helicopter to
Skier who died at Breckenridge on Monday identified
January 8, 2019 — The skier who passed away at Breckenridge Ski Resort on Monday has been identified as 71-year-old William Hass of Northbrook, Illinois, according to Summit County Coroner Regan Wood. At about 1:04 p.m. on Monday, the Summit County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a
Skier dies at Breckenridge Ski Resort
January 7, 2019 — A 71-year-old man died at Breckenridge Ski Resort Monday, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. At about 1:04 p.m. the Summit County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a male skier who was found unconscious on a ski run at the resort. There
Remembering Durwood Marshall, Silverthorne man who passed away following cardiac event at Keystone Resort
January 3, 2019 — For Durwood Marshall, the mountains were always calling. From his early days on the East Coast, to his retirement years in Silverthorne, his love for skiing was a constant in a life characterized by exploration and academia. It was on the mountain where Marshall spent
The death of two Keystone skiers recently due to cardiac issues are stark reminder of heart risks at altitude
December 29, 2018 — This past week, twin tragedies took place within days of each other at Keystone Resort. Arvada resident Daniel Mares, 53, and Silverthorne resident Durwood Marshall, 66, died at Keystone while skiing during the Christmas holiday weekend. In both cases, Summit County Coroner Regan Wood determined
Family remembers Arvada man who died following cardiac event at Keystone Resort
December 28, 2018 — Daniel Mares was a family man. As those close to him look back on his life, tragically cut short following a cardiac episode at Keystone Resort on Dec. 22, it was characterized largely by his effortless intellectualism, a carefree and joyful disposition, and the love
Two men who died following medical incidents at Keystone Resort identified
December 27, 2018 — The two men who passed away following medical incidents at Keystone Resort this week have been identified as 53-year-old Daniel Mares of Arvada and 66-year-old Durwood Marshall of Silverthorne. On Dec. 22, Mares was found unconscious and not breathing at the bottom of a runSkier dies at Keystone Resort on Christmas Day
December 25, 2018 — The Summit County Sheriff’s Office reported late Tuesday, Christmas Day, that a skier had died at Keystone Resort. At approximately 12:26 p.m. the sheriff's office responded to a report of a 66-year-old male skier who was found unconscious on a ski run at Keystone Resort.Skier death at Keystone Resort
December 22, 2018 — The Summit County Sheriff’s Office reported a skier death at Keystone Resort today. At approximately 12:26 p.m. the Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a 52-year-old male skier who was found unconscious and not breathing at the bottom of a ski run at Keystone.
Family remembers Boulder student who died in Breckenridge skiing accident as adventurous, daring
December 20, 2018 — "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." The quote from Helen Keller was one of the sentiments that Daniel Giger left his friends and family with before succumbing to injuries suffered during a ski accident at Breckenridge Ski Resort this weekend. It's
Skier dies after crash at Breckenridge Ski Resort
December 17, 2018 — A 21-year-old skier passed away at St. Anthony Summit Medical Center on Sunday, succumbing to injuries suffered while at Breckenridge Ski Resort earlier that day. The individual has been identified as Daniel Giger, a University of Colorado Boulder student and native of Newport Beach, Calif.Sheriff: Skier death at East Vail Chutes
November 27, 2018 — Editor's note: This story will be updated. On Nov. 27, at approximately 11:30 a.m., the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office responded to a backcountry medical incident where a skier went off of a jump. The skier did not survive the accident. The incident occurred at the
Backcountry skier dies in avalanche in Maroon Bowl outside of Aspen
April 8, 2018 — A member of the Mountain Rescue Aspen team died in an avalanche Sunday in the Maroon Bowl, which is near but outside the Aspen Highlands ski resort boundary, the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday night. “It appears that the skier caught in the slideSkier fatality at Breckenridge Ski Resort
March 28, 2018 — The Summit County Sheriff’s office has confirmed a skier fatality at 3:55 p.m. on Friday, March 23. The sheriff released the following statement: “On March 23, 2018 at approximately 3:55 p.m. the Summit County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a skier that collided
Skier killed in tree collision at Breckenridge Ski Resort identified by coroner
March 9, 2018 — The skier who died after colliding with a tree at Breckenridge Ski Resort on Thursday morning has been identified as Derek Cressey, 38, of Windham, Maine, the Summit County Coroner's Office confirmed Friday afternoon. Cressey's cause and manner of death have not yet been determined
Skier fatality reported at Breckenridge Ski Resort
March 8, 2018 — On March 8, at approximately 9:50 a.m., the Summit County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a skier who collided with a tree at Breckenridge Ski Resort on Peak 8. The skier was transported to the Peak 8 First Aid Room where he was
Skier who died after hitting tree at Keystone Resort ID’ed by coroner
February 26, 2018 — The skier who died after hitting a tree at Keystone Ski Resort Sunday afternoon was 32-year-old Leon Harding Christopher III of Raleigh, N.C., the Summit County Coroner's Office confirmed Monday afternoon. Christopher's death was the second at Keystone so far this season and the third
