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bluedigger

(17,148 posts)
Tue Jan 30, 2018, 02:42 PM Jan 2018

Report: Avalanche victim drifted into gully he intended to avoid

It was only a minor mistake, but one with deadly consequences, that caused an avalanche between Silverton and Red Mountain last week, killing a 27-year-old Durango man, according to a final report on the accident.

“It’s similar to getting lost in the big city,” said Ethan Greene, director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. “You do your research, you get disoriented and you end up in the wrong neighborhood.”

“It doesn’t need to happen and it shouldn’t happen,” Greene said, “but sometimes it does.”

On Jan. 21, a human-triggered avalanche occurred in a steep gully in a popular backcountry skiing spot known as Sam’s Trees, on the south side of Red Mountain Pass near mile marker 77 on U.S. Highway 550.

The avalanche was recorded at 18 to 22 inches deep and 240 feet wide, and released the entire season’s snow pack built up in the gully, the CAIC said.

The avalanche resulted in the death of Abel Palmer.

https://the-journal.com/articles/82969-report-avalanche-victim-drifted-into-gully-he-intended-to-avoid


Experienced, equipped, prepared, and still dead. Be careful out there!
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