Hiker snowshoeing up central Colorado mountain killed in avalanche

BAKERVILLE, Colo. (AP) — A man who was snowshoeing up a central Colorado mountain died after getting hit by an avalanche.

The Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office says two men and a woman set out to go snowshoeing on Wednesday.

Authorities say about 12,000 feet up the trail, a woman crossed a potential avalanche zone and when she turned around, she saw one of the men get caught in an avalanche.

The buried victim had an avalanche beacon. But by the time the man who was buried in the snow was found, the man was not breathing.

The avalanche danger in the area and in much of Colorado is ranked as moderate, but the risk rises at higher elevations.

Gray & Torrey peaks are two popular 14,000-plus-foot mountains close to Denver.