Avalanche Incident
Avalanche Incident
Date: 3/22/98br Time: 15:30br Location: Bugaboo Traverse, Deville Icefall to Glacier Circlebr Avalanche Size: 1br Elevation: approx 9000 ftbr Aspect: NWbr Incline: 70-80 degreesbr Type: Loosebr Water: Wetbr Avalanche Trigger: Afternoon sunbr Activity: Ski tour, traversebr Party Size: 4br People Caught: 1br Partial Burials: 1br Injured: 1br
Comments: Four ski tourers were doing the northerly portion of the Bugaboo traverse. After crossing the Deville Neve, the four skiers had to rappel some two ropelengths into Glacier Circle.It was later in the afternoon, and the skies had been clear.
The four discussed their options. They had initially planned to complete the first rappel together, one at a time,and then complete the second rappel in the same manner. They decided that each person would complete both rappels one at a time, minimizing the groups exposure. The first member of the party rappelled into a chute where he proceeded to set up and clip in to the second rappel. As the group had approached the rappel, they had seen no signs of activity from the slopes above.
As the first skier prepared for the second rappel, the remainder of the party noticed activity on the slope immediately above the first member of their group. They yelled to their friend to get clear if he could, and proceeded to pull back from their location at the top of the first rappel, in fear of their own safety. As they did so , they could see that the sluffs which had been stopping on some benches above the rappel were now getting larger and spilling over the cliffs into the chute where the first member of their party was located. By the time they had pulled back to a point where they could see the last position of their companion, he was nowhere in sight. All that remained was what appeared to be a snapped piece of webbing.
One member of the party then went back onto the Deville Neve to try and contact help with his radio telephone. Eventually, he contacted help which arrived by helicopter and picked him up at approx. 7:00 pm. They immediately flew over the area and spotted the victim laying on the surface of the debris, supine, head down, buried to his knees. At this point the victim apparently motioned with his arms. This was quite amazing as he had been blown off an 80 or so foot cliff by an avalanche of wet snow and rock.
Realizing that the search dog and handler were unnecessary, the helicopter took them, and the one member of the party they had picked up, back to the Rogers Pass where they picked up a longline rescue crew. This crew retrieved the victim, and longlined him to the hospital in Golden where he was stabilized and transported to Foothills Hospital in Calgary. He arrived in Calgary at approx. 1:00 am, and immediately underwent some five hours of brain surgery which undoubtedly saved his life.
The victim spent some two and a half weeks in a coma, and as of this report, has returned home to what appears will be a full recovery. He is a tough little bastard, an we look forward to skiing with him again. He is living proof that miracles do happen, every day!
It should be noted that the victims spouse witnessed this whole incident, and then spent the night out with the fourth and last remaining member of her party. Limited daylight meant there was not enough time to evacuate them that night. She had no knowledge of the location or condition of her partner until she was picked up the following morning.
Upon being contacted just after the incident, one member of the party was asked what, if anything, could be learned from this accident. After a long pause he responded that he wished he listened to his inner voice and voiced his concerns. He did not bring up his concerns, because he figured that other more experienced members of the party had surely considered the risk and decided to proceed. Who was he to question his more experienced group members? Hmmmmm....
Ski safe, and prepare for the worst.
|
|