Shames backcountry incident report

Activity

Skiing

Total in the group?

2

People fully buried?

1

People not injured (caught but not buried)?

2

People involved?

3

Snow depth at trigger point

Average

Terrain traps

• Cliff

Details here are reported from the accounts by those involved.

Occurred around 1500h, two backcountry persons were leap-frogging down at the big rock just above Waterfall in the Fayzurs area, at treeline.

Person 1 skied to skiers left of the rock and triggered an avalanche, getting caught in the flow and landing against a tree fully buried. Person 1 was able to reach a hand at the top of snow and dig down to face.

Person 2 started down to skiers right of the rock and did not realize Person 1 was caught in an avalanche. A group of 3 skiers at the top of Waterfall motioned to Person 2, alerting him of the situation. Person 2 then cut across the slope to help Person 1, and triggered a second slide. Person 2 deployed his airbag and was able to stay above the snow and was not substantially buried.

1st avalanche approx sz 2 (~75cm depth crown), 2nd avalanche approx 1.5-2, ran further down into the gulley.

Both were able to self-evacuate with minor injuries and assistance of 3 other skiers, as Person 1 lost a ski in the avalanche.