Fatal avalanche, Little Poudre, Prater Canyon
Quick report
- Collapsing
- Observed
The survivor of the accident heard one collapse while on the skin track to the ridge. They also reported that the area had been heavily wind-affected by a wind event that came through the region two days prior which left sastrugi which was visble beneath the new snow.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 20
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 75
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Broken cloud cover early before clouds and snow. Ceiling lowered quickly in the afternoon, complicating the helicopter operations. The helicopter remained grounded nearby overnight due to flight conditions.
Snowpack
Forecast team was unable to access the scene due to lateness of the day and avalanche risk.
Forecast team has made two trips to the vicinity of Prater in the past 3 weeks and observed NSF's and surface hoar.
The avalanche danger rating was High above 7,500 feet and Considerable below that elevation with a persistent slab problem and deep persistent slab problem.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2 R2
- Type
- SS
- Aspect
- NW
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 8700 ft
The party discussed staying on the sub-ridge feature previously wind-hammered during the wind event that occurred two days prior. The party skied several hundred vertical feet from the ridge without incident. After regrouping and discussing specific route strategy for the next pitch, the second skier diverted from the intended route and triggered a 2-3' thick and 50' wide soft slab on a steeper terrain feature adjacent to a gully. Debris funneled into the gully and carried the victim through brush and trees. Skier 2 was buried under approximately 2 feet of snow. The first skier performed a beacon search and excavated the skier in ~15minutes, but found his partner pulseless with signs of a leg injury. The first skier performed CPR for 1.5 hours. Due to the nature of the visible leg injury and the subjects position in the debris, it seems most likely that the skier was unconcious when the debris came to rest and may have died of trauma. Both subjects were extricated via helicopter due to dangerous avalanche conditions on the ground approaching the route and hangfire above the scene of the incident. The responding USFS LEO witnessed another avalanche while on scene before other rescuers arrived. A complete report will be published soon. Our condolences to those affected by this accident. See the complete report pulished 1-20-24 for details.