Avalanche late Tuesday afternoon east of Palisades Reservoir

[Skidoox]

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s office has identified the man killed in Tuesday’s avalanche as Troy Leishman, 47, of Idaho Falls.
The Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank the Star Valley Search and Rescue, Swan Valley Fire and Idaho Falls EMS snd Bonneville County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue for their assistance as well as the friends and family of the victim who assisted in the recovery of the victim.
As a public reminder avalanche danger is high and will continue to get higher as the temperatures warm throughout the remainder of the snowmobile season.
ORIGINAL STORY:

SWAN VALLEY — A man died after being buried in an avalanche late Tuesday afternoon east of Palisades Reservoir.
He was snowmobiling with a group of friends when the avalanche was triggered shortly after 4 p.m., according to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. The avalanche happened in the upper bowl of Sheep Creek about six miles from the trailhead.
The snowmobiler was located and freed from the slide, but did not survive.
The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and Bonneville County Search and Rescue responded to the area. The crew will be working through Tuesday night to bring the man’s body out of Sheep Creek, according to a news release.
The snowmobiler’s death is the latest in a series of fatal avalanches occurring in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming within the past six weeks.
On Saturday, Alexander Marra of Orem, Utah died near the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort after triggering an avalanche while skiing.
Montana man Raymond John Moe was killed Jan. 20 after being buried in an avalanche while snowmobiling east of Rayes Peak in Island Park.
Ammon native Adam Wayne Andersen died ten days earlier on Jan. 10 after an avalanche was triggered while he snowmobiled with friends in the Mt. Jefferson area of Island Park.
The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is expected to release more information Wednesday on the latest avalanche.

 

[Mort2112]

Too many this year...this one hurts

 

[SRXSRULE]

4 deaths in 6 weeks with in a 75 mile radius. Not good at all. The snow conditions have been bad, but I feel like there have been lots of poor choices being made. There have been other slides triggered and people caught but survived in that same area/time period.

I know the area well, where this last one happened. I spent 3 winters riding between Teton Valley and Alpine. There is some very hazardous terrain in there and you need to know when to say when and get out of there!

I sure hope everyone is smart the rest of the winter.

RIP

 

[Jaynelson]

Assuming similar snowpack there to hear....there are some nasty weak layers scattered throughout the snow, with the worst one being the furthest down, and now having a LOT of snow on top of it. All of the local back country cat/heli ski operators I've talked to (several) say it's been their most difficult year for avy control and forecasting. I feel anyone riding it like they have the last couple years (or most other years) is really pushing the luck.

 

[CATDIESELPOWER]

RIP