Sierra Avie Death Report

Body of Avalanche Victim Located
Truckee, CA
Associated Press



Searchers on Monday found the body of a missing cross-country skier who was buried in a New Year's Day avalanche in the Sierra.

The body of the Pacific Grove man was found around 10:30 a.m. after authorities narrowed their efforts to an area about the size of a football field, KCRA-TV reported.

Some of the man's clothing and gear were found in shallow snow nearby.

Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal said the victim's body was found near the base of the avalanche site in some trees. His name was not immediately released at the request of his family, Royal said.

Sheriff's deputies said the search for the missing skier was complicated by 2-3 feet of new snow since Thursday's avalanche in a remote, rugged area west of Truckee and north of Donner Summit.

Another man who was skiing with him managed to escape and spent two days in blizzard conditions until he could get out, authorities said.

Deputies said the companion spent two nights at a backcountry hut near Castle Peak. He was provided a cell phone by another group of skiers to call for help. {End of AP Report}

A Reno TV news station reported the avalanche occurred when a cornice above a 20% slope slid, hitting the victim. It also reported the guys avalanche transceiver was not working properly.

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Originally posted by davey
:( any word on pmgear possibly carrying transceivers?

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Been talking to a couple companies, but mostly studying the hard data on performances. We'll probably not do it too soon, as we want to make the best possible decision. Interesting info on the different products, i.e., range variations, failures, durability, etc. So we're still doing our homework.

What caught my ear on the TV news report was the slope angle:
20%, or as determined last nite in a discussion here: 11.3 degrees. And it carried the victim over 100 feet. The slide released as a windloaded cornice above, which would have required a much steeper slope. I'm assuming the area where the skiers were caught was a runout. Also, I'm sure the avie sites will be wanting to know why the victim's transciever wasn't working.

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Originally posted by Kellie
USFS Avie Report/Forecast:
I thought it is interesting they consider avie conditions to be "near ideal" . . .

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That's a pretty blanket statement I think gives too much reassurance to those too ready to take it to heart. This story was just profiled on national TV news. Nine deaths in the US so far this year.

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Originally posted by Alkasquawlik
The bottom line was despite a solid snowpack from previous storms anyone who was up in Tahoe NY's Eve and NY's day knows that it was dumping multiple inches an hour with 100+ mph winds. The desicion to go out in those conditions, was at best, not a smart one. Even despite avie forecast's from USFS. But beyond a unsmart desicion, the malfunction of a beacon is what personally worries me. I know they shouldn't be viewed as a 100% safety net, but a malfunctioning beacon is freaky. Lastly, condolences out to the family and to losing another adventurer.

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I was quite concerned about that, too, as the news showed a Tracker, which I use. But the news tonight said the batteries had gone dead in the three or four days the victim was buried.

TJ - too much, too soon.