Avalanche

Rainy Hollow - Avalanche Fatality

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Quick report

Reposted from Avalanche Canada Incident Report. For more information, visit: https://incidents.avalanche.ca/incident/593

Avalanche

Location: 4.5 km northwest of Mt. McDonell, Haines Pass, approximately 150 km southwest of Whitehorse, YT Avalanche Size: 4 Avalanche Problem: Persistent slab Aspect: NW Elevation: 1350 m Number Involved : 2 Number of Fatalities: 1 Description: A group of five were ski touring in an area 4.5 km northwest of Mount McDonell. The avalanche was triggered by the fourth skier in the group as they descended the slope. One skier was fully buried, 1.5 m deep, and did not survive. Another skier was partially buried and sustained minor injuries. The fully buried skier was extricated by the other members of their group. The avalanche initiated as a wind slab, but stepped down to the mid-February facet/crust layer when it hit the moraine at the bottom of the slope.