A Penn State senior died in a sudden avalanche while skiing on Saturday in Colorado.
Nick Feinstein, 22, and his father, Andy, who is the president of the University of Northern Colorado, were backcountry skiing near Breckenridge when they were buried by the avalanche, according to multiple reports. Andy Feinstein survived without serious injury.
Studying enterprise technology integration, Nick Feinstein had a job lined up with WeFi Technology Group near Denver following his pending graduation, his family told the Greeley (Colorado) Tribune.
“Sadly, we learned Tuesday of Nicholas’ tragic accident and passing,” a Penn State spokesperson wrote in a statement. “During this time of great sorrow, our hearts go out to his family and all who knew him. Nick, 22, was a sixth semester student in the College of Information Sciences and Technology where he was majoring in enterprise technology integration. Leaders of Penn State Student Affairs are reaching out to offer support to his family and friends.”
The Summit County Rescue Group reported that the father and son were buried in an avalanche that occurred at about 1 p.m. on New Year’s Eve outside the Breckenridge Ski Resort boundary. Andy Feinstein was able to dig himself out and ski to an area with cell phone reception to call 9-1-1 by 1:40 p.m. A team of more than two dozen rescuers responded and found Nick Feinstein deceased at 3:11 p.m.
Andy Feinstein told the Tribune he didn’t know how he survived.
“I literally had to use my fingertips to dig out a pocket for me to see light and to dig out,” Feinstein said. “One minute I was skiing and enjoying the powder, and the next minute I was riding what looked like a violent wave of whitewash.”
According to his obituary, Nick Feinstein was an outdoorsman who enjoyed spending as much time as possible skiing, fishing, mountain climbing and exploring.
“Nicholas was a talented, smart, thoughtful, funny and deeply caring human being,” the obituary states. “He was a wonderful brother, son, friend, student, mentor, athlete, gamer, cat whisperer, condiment expert and hot sauce sommelier.”
A celebration of life is scheduled for Jan. 14 at the University of Northern Colorado. Memorial donations may be made to the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, which protects and preserves the natural integrity of Colorado’s 54 14,000–foot peaks .
