Seattle woman dies in avalanche in southwest Colorado

SEATTLE - Authorities say a Seattle woman was killed in an ice climbing accident in southwest Colorado.

The Denver Post reports 44-year-old Van Le Little was with a guide on the Dungeon Ice Climbing Route in Ouray County on Saturday morning when a chunk of ice broke off from a ledge above her and triggered an avalanche.

She was caught in the slide and was swept to a nearby river. The county's emergency manager says Little was climbing with three others, none of whom was injured. She had stepped off to the side of the climb to take pictures when the avalanche was triggered.