Backcountry Snowboarders Caught in Avalanche, Then Attacked by Moose
A trio of riders in Colorado saw their day go from bad to worse when they survived a slide only to be charged by a moose.
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It was a bad day on the slopes for three snowboarders in Aspen’s Maroon Bowl on Monday. After self-rescuing themselves from an avalanche, the group found themselves facing off against an angry moose.
According to The Aspen Times, one of the riders suffered a broken rib and strained back after being thrown into a tree. A debriefing interview with the victims revealed that the group “got lazy” and rode the run all together rather than one at a time, as per proper safety practice, said Blase Reardon, forecaster for the Aspen Zone of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
“All three were caught and carried several hundred feet down the slope,” said Reardon in his report.
After extracting themselves from the slide, the riders managed to side-slip and shuffle their way to a nearby road, and one of them struck out for help. While waiting for him to return, a moose appeared and began behaving aggressively towards the other two, charging them three times. The duo managed to hold their ground, and with help from a nearby ranch, the crew eventually made their way to a hospital.