Nestled beneath the towering peaks of Mount Perry and Mount Elbert, the village of Twin Lakes—accessible via Independence Pass—has always thrived on community spirit and breathtaking alpine beauty. Yet on the morning of January 21, 1962, that close-knit village endured one of Colorado’s deadliest avalanches on record—and emerged a testament to neighborly heroism and solidarity.
The Catastrophic Slide
In the days before, heavy winter snows—nearly four feet in just one week—blanketed the high country. On January 20, gale-force winds scoured the ridges above Twin Lakes. Two families remained through the winter: the Adamiches and the Sheltons. At 5,000 feet below, the village lay in quiet slumber.
At about 5:30 a.m., a massive slab of snow broke loose from 12,676-foot Mount Perry, roared down Gordon Gulch, and swept up and over a 100-foot moraine ridge—an extraordinary distance for an avalanche. The Sheltons’ cabin and the Adamich home were obliterated, their debris scattered hundreds of feet.
Miracles Amid the Rubble
Lake County resident Bill Beal heard distant voices under the collapsed Adamich home. Volunteer rescuers and Forest Service experts—summoned by frantic calls to Leadville—raced to the scene. After hours of careful probing and shoveling:
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William “Bill” Adamich was pulled from a small air pocket, conscious but in shock—clad only in his undershirt and shorts.
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Barbara Adamich emerged alive roughly two hours later, sheltered under debris.
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Tragically, the bodies of G.L. Shelton, his wife Marie, and their three children—Steve (15), Linda (10), and Vickie (7)—were recovered the same day. Their youngest, Michael Adamich (7), was found the following morning.
Despite the ever-present danger of secondary slides, no further avalanches occurred, allowing search teams to complete their grim work.
A Community’s Response and Legacy
Nearly 750 volunteers—from road crews to miners—answered the call. Local ranchers provided horses and wagons to ferry supplies; churches hosted grieving families; and neighbors shared hot meals amidst the wreckage. Their collective effort not only saved lives but bound the village together in shared loss and hope.
Supporting Twin Lakes Today
More than half a century later, Twin Lakes once again faces hardship—this time from the economic “avalanche” of COVID-19. The Twin Lakes Inn, which bucked seasonal closures to offer winter services, has swiftly adapted, expanding take-home meals and essentials through its TWIN-ter campaign. You can support these local efforts by:
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Ordering curbside meals and pantry kits via the Inn’s website.
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Purchasing TW-INN BUCK$ gift certificates, redeemable anytime this summer.
As in 1962, it’s in times of need that Twin Lakes’s spirit shines brightest. By shopping locally, sharing resources, and checking on neighbors, we honor a tradition of kindness that has carried this mountain village through its darkest winters—and will see it safely into the spring.
