Lion Head Avi Death, West Yellowstone

i just thought i'd put this up, first time looking at my email in awhile. be careful out there! condolences to the family


Gallatin National Forest AVALANCHE ADVISORY

Internet: www.mtavalanche.com
Email: r1_gallatin_gnfac@fs.fed.us
Recorded Information: 587-6981
Office: 587-6984

29 December 2006

You can listen to the advisory at:
http://www.mtavalanche.com/data/audio/Dec292006.mp3

Good morning. This is Ron Johnson with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche
Advisory on Friday, December 29 at 7:30 a.m. Gallatin County Search and Rescue
in partnership with the Friends of the Avalanche Center sponsor today’s
advisory. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas.

WEATHER

Yesterday, 4-6 inches of snow fell on the mountains around Bozeman, while less
than two inches fell in the other mountains of southwest Montana. Since
Wednesday evening, 8-12 inches accumulated in the Bridger and northern Gallatin
Ranges, 3-6 inches fell in the southern Madison and southern Gallatin Ranges and
1-2 inches fell in the mountains around Cooke City and Big Sky. Yesterday,
northerly ridgetop winds were less than 15 mph and mountain temperatures were in
the single digits to low teens F.

Today, high pressure over the northern Rockies will result in clear skies,
mountain temperatures in the single digits to low teens F and northerly ridgetop
winds will be less than 20 mph.

SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

The southern Madison and southern Gallatin Ranges, and the Lionhead area near
West Yellowstone:

Yesterday, a snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche on Lionhead near West
Yellowstone, Montana. Other than a few details I have little specific
information about this incident. This is what I know: A group of eight riders
were riding across the lower end of a slope. The fourth rider in the group was
struck by the avalanche. Members of his party used probe poles to locate his
body, which was near his partially buried sled. It took approximately 5 minutes
to uncover him from under 4 feet of debris. Another rider in the party was also
caught but was not completely buried or injured. Today, Doug Chabot and Scott
Schmidt will travel to Lionhead to investigate this incident. More details
about this incident will be included in tomorrow’s advisory.

Yesterday, I was near Bacon Rind Creek in the southern Madison Range. My
partner and I observed widespread collapsing and cracking of the snowpack. On
recently wind-loaded slopes the cracking occurred through wind slabs that
covered less dense new snow. On non wind-loaded slopes a layer of surface hoar
mixed with faceted snow buried 2 feet deep produced collapsing and cracking of
the snow. Stability tests on this layer produced clean shears with moderate
force applied to isolated columns of snow. For snow nerds, test results were
CTM Q1. A similar layer of surface hoar exists on Lionhead. Avalanches and
collapsing and cracking of the snowpack are obvious signs of snow instability
and today, the avalanche danger remains HIGH on all wind-loaded slopes. A
CONSIDERABLE danger exists on non wind-loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees.
Less steep non wind-loaded slopes have a MODERATE danger.



The Bridger, northern Gallatin and northern Madison Ranges:

Yesterday, ski patrollers at Bridger Bowl initiated several loose snow
avalanches on steep slopes. Though no significant slab avalanches were released
at Bridger Bowl, a weak layer of faceted snow just above a hard icy layer exists
in the Bridger Range. This layer also exists in the northern Gallatin and
northern Madison Ranges as do other layers of faceted snow surrounding ice
layers. On Wednesday, a skier triggered an avalanche on a steep NE facing slope
in the northern Gallatin Range. The avalanche fractured on a thin ice crust
buried almost 2 feet deep.

Today, a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists on wind-loaded slopes steeper than
35 degrees. Less steep wind-loaded slopes have a MODERATE danger. A MODERATE
danger also exists on non wind-loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees, while less
steep non wind-loaded slopes have a LOW danger.



The mountains around Cooke City and Washburn Range:

Yesterday, Doug and his partner had so much fun snowmobiling and skiing in the
mountain around Cooke City, they didn’t want to return to Bozeman. Fortunately
Doug remembered why they were in Cooke City and they dug several snowpits.
Small grains of faceted snow on an ice layer buried 2 feet deep produced clean
shears when subjected to a variety of stability tests. This layer is found on
most southeast to southwest facing slopes. Though these layers merit mention as
possible avalanche producing weak layers, steep wind-loaded slopes certainly
warrant caution these types of slopes will probably produce human triggered
avalanches. Today, a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists on wind-loaded slopes
steeper than 35 degrees. A MODERATE danger exists on all other slopes.

Scott Schmidt will issue the next advisory tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. If you
get out into the backcountry today please share your snow and avalanche
observations. You can leave a message at 587-6984 or send us an email from our
web site at www.mtavalanche.com.


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here is the update that was talked about. just managed to dig through the inbox and find it :( the snowpack is scary, this is the same weak layer.....be careful out there...please!


Gallatin National Forest AVALANCHE ADVISORY

Internet: www.mtavalanche.com
Email: r1_gallatin_gnfac@fs.fed.us
Recorded Information: 587-6981
Office: 587-6984

You can listen to the advisory at:
http://www.mtavalanche.com/data/audio/Dec302006.mp3

Good morning. This is Scott Schmidt with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche
Advisory issued Saturday, December 30th at 7:30 a.m. Yamaha and Team Bozeman,
in partnership with The Friends of the Avalanche Center, sponsor today’s
advisory. This Advisory does not apply to operating ski areas.

LIONHEAD AVALANCHE FATALITY

A 19 year old man from Minnesota was killed in an avalanche Thursday in the
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone. The avalanche released above the party as
they broke trail through 12 inches of new snow that fell Tuesday and Wednesday
night. The victim was the fourth person crossing the slope in a group of eight.
He was struck by the avalanche as he moved onto the slope from behind an island
of trees. The avalanche carried him 30 feet downslope and buried him under 3
feet snow. The sixth rider in the group was also caught in the avalanche and
was partially buried but was able to self-extract from the debris. Luckily, the
fifth rider was protected by the island of trees and was not caught. The victim
was located near his partially buried sled by members of his party using a probe
pole. He was recovered unconscious and not breathing in 5 – 10 minutes. All
attempts to resuscitate him where unsuccessful. Our deepest sympathies go out
to the young mans friends and
family.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

No new snow has fallen in the mountains of southwest Montana in the past 24
hours and winds have been blowing10 – 15 mph from the northwest. There is a
strong temperature inversion this morning with valley temperatures in the single
digits and mountain temperatures in the mid to upper 20’s. Today will be mostly
sunny with calm winds and mountain temperatures that will remain in the
mid-twenties at 9000 feet.

SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

The Bridger, northern Gallatin, and northern Madison Range:

The main avalanche concern in the northern mountains is weak, faceted snow
sitting on an ice crust that is buried 2 feet beneath the surface. Several
inches of new snow has added weight to this layer during the past week and we
have had reports of human triggered avalanche activity in the northern Gallatin
and northern Madison Ranges. I was in the Bridger Range on Thursday where 12
inches of new snow fell. Winds have been calm so this snow is not being
transported to leeward slope. As a result there has not been a lot of avalanche
activity associated with this storm in these mountains. This will change if the
wind picks up and starts to move the snow around. Keep an eye open for the
tell-tale plumes along the ridge lines indicating that snow is being transported
onto lee slopes. Today, the avalanche danger in the Bridger, northern Gallatin,
and northern Madison Ranges remains CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes steeper
then 35 degrees. Wind-loaded slopes that are less
steep, and non-wind-loaded slopes steeper then 35 degrees have MODERATE Danger.
On all other slopes, the avalanche danger is LOW.

The southern Gallatin, and southern Madison Ranges, including the Lionhead Area
near West Yellowstone:

Yesterday, Doug and I went into the Lionhead area to investigate the avalanche
that killed a 19 year old man from Minnesota Thursday. The avalanche was
triggered from the bottom of the slope. The snowpack at the trigger point
consisted of weak sugar snow near the ground which likely produced the initial
failure. In addition, a layer of surface hoar buried 2 feet beneath the surface
appears to have propagated this fracture up, and across the slope into the
wind-loaded chute that released and caught the young man. This weak combination
of snow exists on many slopes in the southern Madison, and southern Gallatin
Ranges from Big Sky to West Yellowstone and will like produce human triggered
avalanches on all steep slopes. This point was made clear by an avalanche that
occurred on an adjacent slope while Doug and I where investigating the accident.
A small cornice released near the ridge triggered small avalanche that stepped
down and propagated across the slope on the upper
surface hoar layer (see picture at www.mtavalanche.com/photos/photos.php). For
Today, the avalanche danger in the southern Madison and southern Gallatin Ranges
is CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper then 35 degrees. Slopes that are less
steep have a MODERATE danger.

The mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range:

Small grains of faceted snow on an ice layer buried 2 feet deep produced clean
shears when subjected to stability tests in the mountains around Cooke City.
This layer is found on most southeast to southwest facing slopes and is a
concern on slopes that have been wind-loaded. With all the new snow that has
fallen in this area these slopes will be especially sensitive and all slopes
with a southerly aspect should be treated with caution. The avalanche danger in
the mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range is CONSIDERABLE on
wind-loaded slopes steeper then 35 degrees. All other slopes in these mountains
have a MODERATE danger.

I’ll issue the next advisory tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. If you get out in
the backcountry today, let us know what you find. You can leave a message at
587-6981 or email us from our web site at www.mtavalanche.com.




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Here's the detailed report:

LIONHEAD AVALANCHE FATALITY

28 December 2006


SYNOPSIS:


One snowmobiler was caught and killed in an avalanche that occurred in the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone. The avalanche released on a wind-loaded slope, with an easterly aspect. The slope angle, which averaged 34 degrees, increased to 37 degrees at the crown. The crown was 3 feet at its deepest point, and 300 feet in width. The avalanche ran approximately 600 vertical feet, with a ?i - angle of 24 degrees. The avalanche was triggered remotely as the party traversed along a trail at the bottom of the slope. The distance from the trigger point to the avalanche crown was 975 feet slope distance. US classification of the avalanche is SS-AMr-R3-D2-O.


WEATHER:


12 – 15 inches of new snow fall in the two days prior to the avalanche with the majority of the snow (7 – 10 inches) falling the evening of the 26th. An additional 4 – 6 inches of snow accumulated on the 27th. Strong northerly winds (25 – 45 mph), blew on the 28th starting around 4:00 a.m. These winds where cross-loading the east facing chute under which the party was traveling. Temperatures were seasonal with highs in the mid to upper teens.


AVALANCHE:


19-year-old Joshua Scepaniac of Avon, Minnesota was riding with a group of 7 family and friends in the Henry Mountains near West Yellowstone, Montana. At approximately 12:30 in the afternoon the group crossed a basin near Lionhead Mt. The group broke trail well away from the large, open slopes that define the basin but as they neared the north end of the bowl, terrain and timber forced them to move in close to the bottom of several steep, wind-loaded chutes. The group spread out as they crossed a more obvious slide path on the north side of an island of timber. The first three rides crossed the path without incident and waited on the far side of the path. It appears that the avalanche released as the rest of the group moved through the trees. The three riders who had successfully crossed the slope stated that the avalanche was already running as Joshua (the fourth rider in the group) moved into the path. Joshua was struck by the oncoming avalanche and carried 40 feet before coming to rest – buried under 3 feet of snow – approximately 10 feet from his partially buried snowmobile. Andy Cramer was the 6th rider in the party and had not reached the island of trees when the avalanche released. He was caught and partially buried on the south side of the tree island but was able to self-extract. His snowmobile was completely buried. The fifth ride, Ben Thelen, was behind the tree island and was protected from the flow.


RESCUE:


Joshua was not wearing an avalanche transceiver. One member of the party had an avalanche probe and, starting at the partially buried snowmobile, was able to locate Joshua in a short time. All members of the party had shovels and were able to extract Joshua within approximately five minutes from the time he was buried. This timeline is confirmed by two 911 calls the party made using a cell phone. The first call was made at 12:36 when the victim was first buried. The second call occurred at 12:41 when the party called back to report that they had recovered the victim and were starting CPR. The group preformed CPR for two hours until an organized SAR party arrived from West Yellowstone. There were no obvious signs of trauma and the deputy coroner ruled that the victim had died from traumatic asphyxiation.


SNOWPACK:


The snowpack at the bottom of the path where the avalanche triggered was 94 cm deep. The bottom 30 cm was well-developed depth hoar approximately 2 mm in size. A layer of 10 mm surface hoar was located 53 cm from the ground. The avalanche appears to have initiated in the depth hoar layer, releasing the smaller slide on the south side of the tree island that caught and partially buried Andy Cramer. The fracture propagated over a small rib on the upper layer of surface hoar, into the wind-loaded chute to the north, releasing a large wind slab that caught and buried Joshua. Compression tests in the pit at the bottom of the slope produced clean, easy shears in the surface hoar and simultaneous failures in the depth hoar. Compression tests at, and above the crown, resulted in clean shears but moderate to hard force was required to cause failure.


If you have questions about this incident please feel free to call me at 406-587-6984 or email me at sschmidt@fs.fed.us.


Scott Schmidt

Avalanche Specialist

Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center

Avalanche Incident

not to be callous, but any idea of cause of death? sounds like he was buried a fairly short distance and not buried for very long . . . did he just have no air pocket to breate from, or some trauma in his short ride?

++vibes to family either way