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Date: 2003-03-13
Submitted By: BTAC; Bob Comey
Place: Sheep Pass in the Salt River Range
State: WY
Country: USA
Summary: 3 snowmobilers caught, carried, 1 injured, 1 buried and rescue with transceiver
The following information was provided by Gary Baird of Star Valley
Search & Rescue. On Thursday March 13th a snowmobiler in the Salt River
Range of Wyoming was buried eight feet deep in an avalanche (HS-AV-5-G)
and recovered alive by his companions. This event occured at about 1 PM
approximately one mile north of Sheep Pass which is about 20 miles
south-southeast of Afton, WY in the Smiths Fork Area of the
Bridger-Teton National Forest. A highmarking rider triggered a hard
slab with a 10 to 15 foot crown. Three riders were caught. One had
been stuck and was in the process of turning around his sled when he was
swept 300 yards and buried below eight feet of debris. He had a
transciever which he had purchased the day before. He was dug out by
his companions and revived with minor injuries. The second rider caught
was partially buried and pushed into some trees. He suffered rib and
kidney injuries. The third member of the party caught was able to ride
out of the slide. The members of this party were equiped with beacons
and probes and certainly saved the life of the buried victim.
This hard slab was triggered on an east aspect at an elevation of 9,800
feet. The starting zone was wind loaded, steep (40 to 42 degrees) and
had cornices above it. The bed surface was mostly rocks with a little
vegetation. The slide was approximately 300 yards across and ran 1,000
yards. Warm temperatures and strong sunshine were affecting the
snowpack at the time of this event. The general avalanche hazard in
this area was rated as considerable by the Bridger-Teton Avalanche
Center on Thursday.
Bob Comey
Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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