this isn't anywhere near us!

Huge avalanche buries cars in Colorado

A huge avalanche knocked two cars off a mountain pass Saturday on the main highway to one of the state's largest ski areas, shortly after crowds headed through on the way to the lifts, authorities said.

Eight people were rescued from the buried vehicles and all were taken to area hospitals, said state Patrolman Eric Wynn. Details of their conditions were not available.

"Our crews said it was the largest they have ever seen. It took three paths," Stacey Stegman of the transportation department said of the massive slide on U.S. 40 near 11,307-foot Berthoud Pass, about 50 miles west of Denver on the way to Winter Park Resort.

In a complete coincidence, we went for a drive up I-70 to look at the snow in the mountains, and saw all the signs warning that Hwy 40 was closed. But, we were still pretty far from the avalanche area.

It was beautiful in the mountains today. The sun was out, and the snow was blowing. The only downer was that the kids are hooked on this CD that came with the second Pirates of the Carribean movie, so we listened to it THE WHOLE TIME. I'm not that into rum not even with a "Yo Ho Ho," and "Blow the Man Down" sort of gives my juvenile self the giggles. Other than that, I think I could hang with the pirates if they bathed more frequently, I guess. On the whole, I'd rather have listened to something else, but keeping the kids happy and quiet goes a loooooooong way.

Labels: newsworthy, snow