Tourist Skier From Hungary Found Dead in Avalanche, After Venturing Into Forbidden Territory

Skiing is undeniably exciting, whether it’s gliding down a snow-covered mountain for sport or for leisure. It has also been widely practiced since it became an Olympic sport in 1936. Yet, since it is done at high altitudes and out in the open, the skier is often at the mercy of the environment. On March 19th, a visitor was killed as he ventured beyond the Aspen Highlands ski area line and into the dangerous Maroon Bowl.

Gabor Hazas, 54, was buried in an avalanche while skiing at the edge of the Aspen Highlands ski resort, as reported by Olivia Prentzel of The Colorado Sun. The Pitkin County Coroner’s Office shared the news and said that two additional backcountry skiers were also trapped in the avalanche.

A horrible end to a skiing session

Known as the “Maroon Bowl,” this off-limits location is where Gabor Hazas was skiing. Hazas resumed his exploration of the region, which is perilous because of its sheer northwest-facing slope. But, at about 1:30 p.m., an avalanche swept him away. The Colorado Sun reports the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office as saying that the victim died on Sunday. The avalanche’s crest was around 2,000 feet above the ground, and it was approximately 200 feet broad before it broke. The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Rescue Aspen, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC), and the Aspen Highlands Ski Patrol all participated in the rescue effort since two more people were affected by the incident.

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The three skiers caught in this avalanche were all well-prepared, having received avalanche safety training and carrying and wearing avalanche safety equipment. All precautions were in vain, however, since the force of nature was too great to be halted. The pair of survivors established contact with the rescuers right away, as the rescuers called in air assistance to aid them.

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As one skier was being saved, the other was making their way up the hillside in order to reach a rope and be hauled up to the ski area. Hazas’s death, however, was verified on the scene, making him the ninth person to perish in an avalanche in the region so far this year.