Avalanche News - December 16, 2024
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Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep face death by avalanche
Snow is an essential water source for bighorn sheep, but it can also be dangerous. The 2022–2023 winter in California set precipitation records and dumped approximately 18 meters (60 feet) of snow onto the Sierra Nevada. That winter, avalanches killed at least 73 bighorn sheep, with 12 deaths from just one avalanche, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
While snow cover will generally decrease in the Sierra Nevada in the future, that decrease will mostly be at lower elevations, where snowfall may become rain. The high elevations where bighorn sheep live will have fewer changes to snow cover. Those high elevations may even see an increase in snow accumulation as climate change increases the number and strength of California's atmospheric rivers, which were responsible for the Sierra Nevada's deep snowpack in 2023. More snow could mean more avalanches at high elevations, leading to more bighorn sheep deaths.
More ... (Phys Org)
Idaho Dept of Transportation tracks avalanches for safety
The snow brought by winter storms can be a lot of fun, but it can also lead to dangerous avalanches across Idaho. “A lot of times we will keep the highway open when avalanches are happening,” says ITD Avalanche Forecaster, Bill Nicholson. According to him, they happen all the time during the winter season, but what they mainly keep watch for is whether those avalanches will reach the highways. “Typically, on this highway we will have five to six closures every year and almost 90 percent of the time avalanches do hit the highway during those closures” says Nicholson.
Jay Breidenbach is a Warning Coordinator Meteorologist with the National Weather Service and works closely with the avalanche team. He says that what makes this year a little different, is that the avalanche team has to be mindful of the damage left behind from Wapiti Wildfire. “We’re expecting an above normal snowpack and that could certainly influence how avalanches behave and the number of avalanches we get along that corridor through the wapiti fire, along Highway 21, that’s can certainly be an issue this year,” says Breidenbach. “It won’t really impact the avalanches, but it will affect avalanche debris that ends up on the road because it will get carried down in the debris. and that makes cleanup for the maintenance guys more challenging because the logs are a lot harder to pick up with a loader,” says Nicholson.
More ... (KMVT 11)
Freeride Guide at Hochfügen, Austria, Injured by Inbounds Avalanche
A group of Czech skiers was freeriding at Austria’s Hochfügen ski resort when an inbounds avalanche caught two of them, leaving one seriously hurt. According to the Tyrol Police Department, the five-person group, including two guides, set out around 3:15 p.m. on December 10. They planned to ski the northeast slope below Waidoffen mountain station, taking turns to descend one by one. The incident happened when the 51-year-old guide fell during his run. Another group member, 47, skied down to help when a slab of snow broke loose above them, sweeping both men about 100 feet (30 meters) downslope.
More ... (Snowbrains)
Keystone Resort Boot-Packs High-Alpine Terrain
(The article has a good photo of how intensive this is)
Keystone, Colorado — Opening high-alpine terrain is a challenge due to the risk of avalanches. Guests who ski this steep terrain may not notice it, but getting it open is an intricate process. In order to open up steep high-alpine terrain to guests, ski patrollers at Keystone bootpack. This technique allows individuals to compact the snow, getting rid of potential weak layers that could lead to a avalanche slide.
Boot packing is a commonly used practice for high-alpine terrain. Another example of this occurs at Taos Ski Valley, which offers a free season pass for those who help the ski resort out by bootpacking in areas like Kachina Peak.
More ... (Unofficial Networks)
Man caught in avalanche digs out of debris with dislocated shoulder
(This incident may have been reported in a previous news email but this adds the detail of the dislocated shoulder.)
A solo backcountry skier who was injured in a slide Dec. 3 had planned to avoid avalanche terrain, but he deviated from his plan to make a couple of turns into the top of an avalanche path to “check the snow conditions.” The slide, which took place in an avalanche path known as Mines 2 on Mines Peak east of Berthoud Pass, swept the skier about 400 feet through small trees. When the debris stopped, his arms were out of the snow, but his face and head were buried about 6 inches deep. Despite suffering a dislocated shoulder, he was able to dig himself out of the debris and call 911 on his cellphone. The avalanche dragged him under and he lost both skis, the report stated. After digging himself out, he hiked downhill toward U.S. Highway 40, where he met up with Grand County Search and Rescue about 1 1/2 hours after the avalanche. He was then taken by ambulance to receive emergency care.
More ... (Vail Daily)
