LOCAL STAR VALLEY MAN DIES IN SNOWMOBILE AVALANCHE
                         BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST
                          GREYS RIVER RANGER DISTRICT
                          SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10, 1996
An early afternoon avalanche claimed the life of a Thayne, Wyoming man on
Saturday, February 10.  Chris Magee was buried by an avalanche while
snowmobiling in the Mann Peak (10,450'), North Fork area of Strawberry creek,
east of Bedford, Wyoming, 13 air miles NE of Afton, Wyoming, 36 air miles SW of
Jackson, Wyoming.  The avalanche occurred on a Southerly slope at the 8,800'
elevation.  The Bridger-Teton NF Backcountry Avalanche Hazard Forecast for the
day at that elevation was MODERATE.
C. Magee and three other beelers were out riding their sleds when a southerly
slope, one of the beelers was climbing, fractured which they said produced a
"noise like a rifle being fired" and avalanched above the three other beelers
who at that time sitting on a ridge, below the avalanche.  Their first thought
was the avalanche would be directed down the draw in front of them.  By the
time they realized the avalanche was coming up on the ridge they were sitting
on, it was too late. C. Magee and another beeler were caught in the avalanche.
C. Magee was buried under three feet of snow. The other beeler that was caught
was able to dig himself out of the debris.  The other two men were able to
escape from the avalanche on their sleds.  They then proceeded to probe with
"Jake Pine poles" above C. Magee's sled and were able to locate him under 3
feet of snow.  He was wrapped around a tree, helmet was pulled up, but still
on. Their was no ice mask present.  They then started CPR on C. Magee. One of
the beelers then went for help.  He made contact with the Lincoln County
Sheriff by phone at 1:33 PM.  The sheriff responded with a helicopter and
volunteer search and rescue personnel.
The victim was flown out of the area by helicopter and to the Star Valley
Hospital at approximately 3:45 PM.  The victim was pronounced dead at 4:45 PM.
                               Avalanche Stats:
Date of avalanche Occurrence: Saturday Feb 10, 1996
Weather Features: Clear ski & Temperature Inversion at mid & high elevations.
Time Avalanche Occurred: 1:00PM
Number in Party:  4
How Many Caught: 2           
How Many Buried: 2
Slope Elevation:  8,800'
Slope Aspect: Southerly
Size of Avalanche:  HS-AO-5-O-M
Avalanche Fracture Depth:  12 feet
Avalanche Fracture Width: Est.  200-250 Yards
Avalanche Bed Surface: N/A
Victim Burial Depth: 3 feet.  No ice mask was evident.
Victim was found by party members with their make shift probes, wrapped around
a tree.
Victim Burial Time: Est. 30 minutes +
Garu Poulson
Jackson Ranger District
Bridger-Teton NF