Date: Sun, 07 Jan 96 17:27:48 000
From: bruce tremper 
Subject: Galena Pass Avalanche Accident
Two snowboarders were killed about 3 pm January 5th on Galena 
Pass Idaho which is just north of Ketcham Idaho.  One was a 
19 year old male and the other was a 21 year old male.  Three 
people were traversing an old road cut on about a 25 degree 
slope when they collapsed the slope and triggered the avalanche 
which came down from above.  It was a hard slab from 6 inches 
to 40 inches deep, 250 feet wide and ran about 250 feet.  It was 
a pencil to knife hard slab running on faceted snow and surface 
hoar.  It occurred on a southeast facing slope which was recently 
wind loaded and was between 25 and 60 degrees in steepness.  One 
victim appeared to die from trauma and the other from suffocation.  
Both were buried about 1 1/2 hours and located by rescue dogs.  
Neither had beacons or shovels.