Woman dies near Riverland during weekend storm

Details limited as authorities investigate

By Katherine Nettles 

Another tragedy struck in the Gunnison Valley last weekend, as a Crested Butte woman perished near Riverland in the freshly fallen snow of an intense storm cycle for the area.

Gunnison County coroner Michael Barnes identified the woman as 34-year-old Kelsey Boleski, who was a resident of Crested Butte. He said her family had been notified.

According to a press release issued by the Mt. Crested Butte police department on Tuesday, March 5, officers were called to a location near the intersection of Highway 135 and Riverland on Sunday morning, March 3. The report was for a woman found deceased in the snow. The call came in at 10:40 a.m.

Mt. Crested Butte public information officer Madeline Thomas said that officers responded to an area between the highway and a private driveway. The Mt. Crested Butte police department is contracted through Gunnison County to respond to incidents and accidents throughout the North Valley aside from those within the town of Crested Butte.

Barnes said he was called to the scene by emergency dispatch at 10:55 a.m. 

No other information about Boleski’s cause or approximate time of death has been released.

“We are not releasing much information as this is an active investigation,” confirmed Thomas. 

Barnes also said he could not share any other details or cause of death. “At this point it is still under investigation,” he echoed. 

Sheriff Adam Murdie said his department was aware of the fatality but had no further details to add.

According to the Crested Butte Avalanche Center, anywhere from 8-11 inches of snow fell overnight (from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m.) on Saturday, with wind speeds up to 50 miles per hour in the area where Boleski was found. Another 4 to 7 inches of snow fell on Sunday between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.

According to her Facebook profile, Boleski was originally from Vermont and worked locally as a store manager at Christy Sports.

 Our condolences go out to Boleski’s friends and family. 

Anyone needing support during this difficult time is encouraged to reach out to Crested Butte State of Mind at cbstateofmind.org and a confidential 24-hour crisis hotline is available at 844-493-8255 or by texting TALK to 38255.