Backcountry snowboarder dies near Winter Park

FRASER, Colo. – Searchers found the body of a backcountry snowboarder in a tree well east of the boundary of Winter Park Resort’s Mary Jane mountain.

Resort officials say the resort received a report of a snowboarder missing in dense trees in an area known as 40 Gate Friday afternoon and launched a joint search with the Grand County sheriff’s office. A short time later, searchers found the unresponsive man on U.S. Forest Service land and began rescue efforts.

He was later pronounced dead.

Resort officials say the 49-year-old man is a longtime area resident. Grand County sheriff’s officials have not released the man’s name.