Sanpete Avalanche

[SnowBigDeal]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=14893379

SPRING CITY, Sanpete County — Rescuers have retrieved each of seven people who were trapped in a steep bowl on Horseshoe Mountain after a Saturday morning avalanche.

The most badly injured man who was completely buried by the wall of snow was being taken off the mountainside at about 10 p.m. by a Sno-Cat and was unconscious but breathing, said Sanpete County Sheriff's Sgt. Greg Peterson.

Another man who was partially buried was taken to an area hospital as a precaution, Peterson said.

"He was up walking around and talking, but after further evaluation it was decided to take him to the hospital," Peterson said.

Rescuers had to use ropes and other equipment in a methodical attempt to reach the party — three of whom were swept into a 1,000 foot deep bowl by the 11:30 a.m. avalanche.

Four of the skiers' friends also became trapped because they tried to reach the avalanche victims.

"This is nothing like a ski resort. This is extreme back country. It is not a cut-and-dried operation because it is an area you cannot get into with a snowmobile or Sno-Cat," Peterson said.

Hampered by those conditions, made worse with fog, blowing snow and nightfall, Peterson said it was a tricky rescue operation.

Two teams — technical rescue and search and rescue — snowshoed in to reach the victims, tackling rugged, high country terrain that Peterson said is not suitable for wintertime recreation.

"It is a good place not to go to ever, ever again," Peterson said, adding that there are no roads that allowed access to the injured men and no place for a medical helicopter to land.

 

[SledsWest]

UPDATE:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=14903060

Sanpete County avalanche victim dies
March 27th, 2011 @ 4:12pm
By ksl.com

SANPETE COUNTY -- A man who got swept away in an avalanche in Sanpete County on Saturday has died.

Garrett Smith, one of the men pulled from the avalanche in the backcountry of the Manti La-Sal National Forest, died in the hospital Sunday afternoon.

Smith, 26, and six others were skiing in the area when three of them got caught in the slide. Rescuers had to use ropes and other equipment in an attempt to reach the party who, were swept into a 1,000 foot-deep bowl by the 11:30 a.m. avalanche.

Two of those men were treated and released, but Smith -- who was under the snow the longest -- succumbed to his injuries at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.

The brother of one of the skiers says Smith was buried for 10 to 20 minutes before the other skiers were able to dig him out, unconscious but breathing.

In a written statement, Smith's family said, "Garrett and his loved ones loved being in the backcountry. They took every known precaution possible and did everything right, but all risks cannot be mitigated."

The family went on to thank those who helped in the rescue: "A tragic incident has occurred, but self rescue efforts were performed by party members unceasingly until help arrived. Even though Garrett has passed, the rescue was successful in bringing him back to us so that goodbyes could be said with family and loved ones."

 

[JedInUtah]

Sad to hear!

 

[harrysmith500]

That's too bad, just goes to show the risk involved in what back country people do, sometimes all the prep in the world isn't enough.

These guys were totally prepared from what the news said.

 

[SledsWest]

They were digging snow pits to check the snow when it slid. Makes me wonder where exactly they were when they were digging. Were they on the edge of a cornice or down below the top? In hindsite, this also goes to show that beacons are important to have but an airbag would have been better in this situation.

RIP man, sad to hear.....

 

[madsigntist]

That's too bad, just goes to show the risk involved in what back country people do, sometimes all the prep in the world isn't enough.

These guys were totally prepared from what the news said.

They were digging snow pits to check the snow when it slid. Makes me wonder where exactly they were when they were digging. Were they on the edge of a cornice or down below the top? In hindsite, this also goes to show that beacons are important to have but an airbag would have been better in this situation.

RIP man, sad to hear.....

Sad to hear of this tragic turn on this story.
Well put above guys. You never know when a wildcard will get thrown your way. Best you can do is try to be prepared and be smart.


Condolences to the family of this fellow Backcountry Brother

 

[JohnnyQuestUtah]

http://hammersincphoto.com/


here's a link to a few pics by Garrett

God be with his family and friends.

 

[sled_guy]

I'm confussed... aren't you supposed to dig the snow pits in a safe area? Smaller slope of same aspect and the likes?

Something was done wrong if they were caught while digging the pits.

sled_guy

 

[phatty]

For those that dont know. Garret and his brother in law Adam baker are two highly respected back country photographers. They shot skiers, fishing, mtn biking, hiking, and all sorts of stuff that is published world wide. They were down there working on some projects.
Its too soon for me to pry and ask about what happened. I don't even know who the other two that were buried in the slide were, though i suspect Adam might have been one of them. Im not sure Garret has even been married a year yet. Its absolutely heart breaking.

Remember the best avy safety is not being there by knowing before hand, not equipment. Be safe out there peeps, the snow on the rain layer is coming down... 6-10 feet at a time, Sleeping giant is awakening.

 

[sledutah]

I was on sight with search and rescue, to have two of the three people survive an avalanche of that size is just amazing. The lip left from the slide was over 10 feet high, and the run out was easy 1500 feet. For anyone familiar with the area they were in the big horse shoe above spring city. I agree with everyone above, sometimes no amount of preparation and gear can save you from mother nature.
My prayers go out to the friends and family that have been left behind.

 

[snengineer]

Wow the crown did look really big, insane area for sure.....Terrible to hear one didn't make it.

 

[SledGimp]

My understanding is that they determined that it was unsafe and were leaving when it slid. Terrible accident my prayers go out to the family and friends of all involved.

 

[phatty]

http://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche_skyline_3262011

 

[sled_guy]

Thanks for posting that phatty. One mistake... sobering.

sled_guy

 

[harrysmith500]

Garrets viewing is tonight.