Heroic Wife Locates Husband Lost in Avalanche Using Transceiver [WATCH]

A seasoned skier with deep ties to Colorado’s rugged backcountry tragically lost his life in an avalanche on January 7. Donald Moden Jr., a 57-year-old and former member of the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team, was discovered buried on Red Mountain Pass in an area ominously nicknamed “Bollywood,” as reported by Fox News.

His body was located by his determined wife, who used her avalanche transceiver to track his signal after he failed to check in as planned.

Veteran skier found buried in avalanche on desolate trail by wife using transceiver https://t.co/rYHIGy3fh5 pic.twitter.com/OZdnGlrAgW

— New York Post (@nypost) January 17, 2025

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The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) reported that Moden was buried for more than four hours under the heavy snow, rendering any chance of self-rescue impossible. They also stated the avalanche was 800 feet wide and traveled 400 feet vertically.

His wife, acting swiftly and decisively, arrived at the trailhead and picked up his signal. Using an avalanche probe, she located her husband and called out for assistance from other skiers in the area. Despite her heroic efforts, Moden could not be saved.

Moden’s extensive experience in the backcountry made the tragedy all the more shocking. Having skied on Red Mountain Pass for 16 years, he was well-versed in the terrain, particularly the slope known as “Red Number 3.”

According to the CAIC report, Moden had assessed the conditions based on his prior knowledge and deemed the area safe. However, the unforgiving forces of nature proved otherwise.

On the day of the avalanche, Moden was reportedly on his seventh run. Though equipped with an avalanche airbag backpack, it failed to deploy during the incident.

The CAIC noted that Moden had skied an adjacent slope the previous day and likely encountered no signs of instability, adding another layer of tragedy to the event.

Moden’s death marked Colorado’s first avalanche fatality of the ski season. Since November 9th, 25 individuals have been caught in 23 separate avalanches in the state.

Of those, seven were buried under snow and debris. While these statistics align with historical averages, they underscore the ever-present dangers of backcountry skiing.

As a former member of the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team, Moden was no stranger to the perils of the backcountry.

His passing serves as a stark reminder of the importance of caution, preparation, and respect for the unpredictable power of nature.