Snowboarders escaped monster avalanche, but not the law

A sign warns backcountry users about avalanche blasting near the Continental Divide in Colorado, Monday, March 22, 2021. Evan Hannibal, of Vail, and Tyler DeWitt, of Silverthorne, were involved in an avalanche in the area last spring that buried a service road and destroyed an expensive avalanche mitigation system. The two are scheduled to go to trial Thursday, March 25, 2021, on charges of misdemeanor reckless endangerment. Prosecutors also are seeking $168,000 in damages in the rare case that some worry could deter other backcountry skiers and snowboarders from coming forward to report aval…