Watch a Controlled Avalanche in Ophir, Colorado

The reports of avalanches in the news this winter seem to be plentiful. Just a few weeks ago I-70 was shut down after an avalanche covered the highway with up to 15 feet of snow.

Another avalanche occurred when a backcountry skier triggered an avalanche; he was thankfully equipped with a special backpack, and there just happened to be a rescue worker specialized in avalanche rescue nearby, or the incident could have proved fatal.

According to OutThereColorado.com, avalanches can reach speeds of 20 mph in seconds. And Colorado is home to more than 500 known avalanche paths.

Crews trigger some avalanches as safety precautions. One of these was captured in Ophir, Colorado, in the southwest part of the state. While the video is a few years old, you can see the sheer magnitude and hear the force of an avalanche.