Last Saturday on January 8, 2022, snowshoers Hannah Nash and Drake Oversen were taking advantage of the snowy weather when the unthinkable occurred. The two were snowshoeing near Hoosier Pass with their dog, Valerie, when a layer of snow from higher up the mountain collapsed giving way to an avalanche. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), the avalanche was up to 400-feet wide. 

Nash and Oversen were both residents of Colorado Springs and were reported to be missing on Sunday by family and friends when the pair never returned home from their outing. However, by the time search and rescue had found them, they had long been dead. According to officials, the cause of death was both due to blunt force trauma and asphyxiation. The two were not carrying any sort of avalanche gear.

Oversen was a dentist at Mountain Vista Dental in Colorado Springs. His career in dentistry started when he was serving in the army as captain. Kathyrn Carlson, Oversen’s coworker and friend, claimed “Dr. Oversen cared very much for his patients. He loved traveling. He loved the outdoors. He was not only our co-worker, but he was very much our friend and will be deeply missed.”

Nash, who was just as caring and kind as Oversen, worked at Penrose-St. Francis Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation at Centura Health. A statement from the hospital read “This loss is deeply felt by our hospital and her close-knit Cardiac Rehab team. Hannah was known for her love of animals, attention to detail, and genuine desire to see her Cardiac patients improve and succeed. Our sympathies go out to her family, friends and loved ones, and all the caregivers who are grieving this unexpected loss.” 

Oversen and Nash were also members of the F45 Training Center. In honor of them, the organization posted a video of the two working out. A spokesperson from F45 also stated that the two were “Very impactful, sweet, caring, and energetic. Everybody loved them. Anything good you could say about somebody, you can say about them. The community at F45 is extremely upset.”

In the presence of this tragedy, Elaine Smith, co-owner of Mountain Chalet, wishes to remind the people that it is crucial to carry avalanche gear when up in the snowy mountains. “It’s very important to have it just in case that happens. It’s very important to know how to use that equipment and practice with it, because a lot of people will have it, thinking they’re protected, and then in a very stressful situation, it’s very difficult to remember all the things you need to do,” said Smith.

However, even with the proper avalanche gear, there are no guarantees that anyone who experiences an avalanche will survive, as if all members of the group are buried, there will be no one to operate the equipment. In order to prevent future tragedies, all people can do when up in the mountains is to make sure they have the proper gear, a couple of buddies, and most importantly, the knowledge that might help them to avoid or escape an avalanche.