(Above Credit: Colorado Avalanche Information Center)

Earlier this year  two snowboarders were riding on the west side of the Continental Divide in Summit County, Colorado when a small slab released a large avalanche. One of the riders said “I was trying to release the small wind-drifted slab that had been releasing naturally along this wall throughout the day”

Large sections of road were buried and a new O’bellx avalanche control system was destroyed, touted to cost over $120,000 alone. The event was caught on one of their GoPro’s, which was given to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center back in March. Investigators later used this footage as evidence to issue the riders summonses for reckless endangerment.

Brian Metzger, with the Summit County Sherrif’s Office, wrote in his report “The pair were clearly worried about avalanche conditions but proceeded down the path anyway. After the avalanche was triggered there was a comment made about how he hoped there was no one on the road. There was also a comment made about being in trouble if the cops show up.”

The two have pleaded not guilty. Read the full story on Summit Daily.