Joel Shute 36-Year-Old skier died from a Backcountry Avalanche on March 2023. He turned 36 on March 13 and shared a birthday with World Cup Ski racer Mikaela.
Joel Shute was a skilled aviator, a world-renowned skier and a snow enthusiast.
He was an expert waterway navigator, using kayaks and rafts to traverse from mountain peaks through valleys and creeks and out into the vast blue skies.
According to his mother, Lisa Gerstner, Joel was an avid traveler who often used his pilot’s license to fly his Father, Steve Shute, and friends for work and leisure.
After returning to Glenwood Springs in 2017, Joel worked alongside his Father to manage a group of rural gas distribution utilities.
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Joel Shute – 36-Year-Old Skier Died From A Backcountry Avalanche
A 36-year-old Glenwood Springs man lost his life in a massive avalanche in upper Rapid Creek near Chair Mountain, southwest of Marble.
According to the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office, Joel was backcountry skiing with two other individuals when they were caught in the avalanche.
While one of Joel’s companions could hike out to seek assistance, the other was rescued by helicopter, as the Colorado Avalanche Information Center reported.
The Sheriff’s Office recovered Joel’s body around 1 pm on Saturday.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) reported that the avalanche that claimed Joel Shute’s life was substantial, measuring 2 to 3 feet in depth, 300 to 500 feet in width, and spanning 2,400 vertical feet.
Further, according to CAIC, Joel was buried approximately 4 feet deep in the snow.
To locate Joel, CAIC and West Elk Search and Rescue members were transported to the rugged terrain area where the avalanche had occurred via helicopter, as announced by the Sheriff’s Office in a Facebook post on Saturday.
The search began immediately while other teams made their way to the location. Joel’s body was found around 11:30 am, and recovery efforts were carried out by helicopter.
On the other hand, Shute’s family members have stated that he was well-informed about the risks of avalanches but remained dedicated to his passion for skiing.
Joel’s mother, Lisa Gerstner, shared that he frequently traveled and utilized his pilot’s license to fly his Father and friends on work trips and recreational outings.
In the words of his brother Aaron Shute, “Skiing was Joel’s life. It was his passion and what he wanted to do with his life,” as conveyed to KDVR-TV.
When Was Joel Shute Reported Missing?
According to authorities, Joel Shute had gone missing on Friday evening after being caught in an avalanche while backcountry touring with two other individuals southwest of Marble.
The avalanche covered a distance of 2,400 feet down the mountainside.
It measured two to three feet in depth at its starting point and up to 500 feet in width, as the Colorado Avalanche Information Center reported.
During the search, rescue teams discovered Joel’s body buried about four feet deep in the snow.
Fortunately, a skier and snowboarder who were with Joel at the time of the avalanche survived the incident.
The snowboarder could hike out to get help while rescue teams evacuated the injured skier by helicopter.
According to the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office, both individuals were transported to a hospital.
Recent storms have heightened the risk of avalanches, and the current winter season has already seen the tragic deaths of 18 individuals across the U.S. due to avalanches.
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