AVALANCHE ACCIDENT ASPEN CO 1/23/96 THE ACCIDENT Details are continuing to flow in at this time but here is what I believe I know. Mid afternoon on 1/23/96, two skiers were skiing on the Richmond Ridge area several miles south of the ski area boundary of Aspen Mountain Ski Area in the White River National Forest. They were skiing on the east side of a north-south ridge. It appears that they were taking turns skiing very gentle terrain alone while the other drove the snowmobile. Near the end of the day, the pair, who were somewhat unfamiliar with the area, miscommunicated their meetup point. The snowmobiler went to the Luschene's pickup point on the north side of McFarlane Bowl. The skier ended up meeting up with the Powder Tour snowcat at the Flagpole pickup on the south side of McFarlane Bowl. They gave him directions to return to the top of the run. It is thought that these skiers had no intentions of ever skiing McFarlane Bowl. They were planning on skiing gentle terrain surrounding it. The snowmobile driver, it appears, became worried about not meeting and returned to the top of the run where he left his snowmobile near the Powder Tour lunch TeePee and skied down the south ridge of McFarlane along a run called Prudence. Ski tracks are the only clues from here on out. After passing below the Flagpole traverse, he turned to the north and headed into McFarlane Bowl. The best guess here is that he wanted to head towards the Luschene's Pickup on the north side. The problem here obviously is the avalanche terrain between him and his goal. It appears he triggered a slide and rode it for about 200 feet. Tracks show that he then stood up and continued towards the north further into McFarlane where he triggered a second slide which broke about 300 feet above him and dragged him into the gully and buried him. The aspect of this slope is near north. The pitch is 39 degrees. The crown was very jagged as it broke in a loosely treed area 2 - 3 feet deep and about 80 feet wide. The crown was at about 10,450 feet and the body finally came to rest at about 9980. THE RESCUE The skier, upon arriving at the top of the run, realized the snowmobile was there and his friend's skis were missing. Aspen Mt. Ski Patrol and Mt Rescue Aspen were notified. As dark was closing in, the Aspen Mt. Patrol was able to visualize a slide in McFarlane. A formal search was begun early the next morning by Mt. Rescue Aspen. During the search I arrived from nearby Aspen Highlands Ski Area with a rescue dog to provide for that possibility. Aspen Mt. Ski Patrol was asked to perform a hazard analysis and subsequent explosive avalanche control to minimize the risk to rescuers in the bottom of the bowl. Once that was concluded, a beacon search yielded a signal and subsequent probing and digging produced the body. Reports are that he was about 4' deep and had an ice mask. THE WEATHER Autumn and early winter had low snowfall. December produced a three week drought with very cold temps accompanied by surface hoar growing to 25mm. Snow at the surface during this 3 week period was what's known locally as 'head hard'. (1 step weaker than fist) January had several small storms near the beginning of the month accompanied by strong winds. Recently, we've received 40cm of new snow in several storms. Natural releases have been somewhat less than expected but triggers required to produce avalanching are very small. Collapsing is occurring on all aspects, elevations and pitches. COMMENTS This skier, with whom I was acquainted, was very well equipped. His pack contained avalanche rescue gear including a rope, Alpine Trekkers, skins, shovel and probes. He also had a complete pit kit as well as water and lunch. He was wearing a dual frequency beacon and actually had a spare beacon in his pack. His level of avalanche education is unknown at this time. Despite the best of intentions and preparations, this skier was travelling alone in avalanche prone terrain. In addition, their method of skiing always left the skier alone during his lap. The lesson to be learned here is the importance of quick rescue from your skiing partners in avalanche terrain. The best preparation cannot make up for this. Unfortunately, we will never know what was going through this skiers head. His friends have said he never skied McFarlane and was afraid of it. My guess is that he was very worried about his friend and threw caution to the wind in an attempt to do everything he could to find him. Kevin Heinecken Avalanche Technician Aspen Highlands Ski Area kevhein@csn.org ============================== More from an unknown source: The tracks led searchers into the bowl where the victim apparently triggered a small avalanche and rode it down 200 feet but not burying him. He stood up and continued farther north where he triggered a larger avalanche which broke out 300 feet above him and dragged him into a gully and buried him 4 1/2 feet deep. The avalanche slope was NNE, 37 degrees, 2-3 1/2 feet deep, 100 feet wide and carried the victim 480 vertical feet. The avalanche ran on a combination of faceted snow near the ground and surface hoar with the slab composed of recent new and wind loaded snow. The victim was well equipped with a beacon, spare beacon, snowpit kit, rope, rescue whistle, skins and alpine ski inserts. There is some speculation that he entered the bowl because he believed that his missing friend may have run afoul of an avalanche there. But we will never know. He had a well developed, full body ice mask which indicates that he lived for enough time under the debris to be rescued by a partner. But, unfortunately, he was alone.