Silverton, Colorado – A dramatic video shows two massive avalanches breaking on the north face of the Battleship near Silverton, highlighting the extreme danger in Colorado’s backcountry. The slides, both hard slab avalanches on north to northwest-facing terrain, were remotely triggered from lower-angle slopes, demonstrating the unpredictability of current conditions.

The first avalanche, which was larger, released near the site of a fatal avalanche in December 2020. As it cascaded down the slope, a second avalanche followed, emphasizing how quickly backcountry terrain can turn deadly.

Since Thursday, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) has documented 32 large to very large avalanches (D2–D2.5) statewide and received 20 reports of people being caught in or triggering slides, many remotely. The footage underscores the low-probability but high-consequence risks now facing winter travelers.

CAIC advises backcountry enthusiasts to stick to south or southwest-facing terrain, lower-angle slopes, or avoid avalanche terrain altogether, giving themselves a wide margin for safety amid volatile conditions.

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