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Show than realized. The terminus of the debris from both slides One and Two were covered by slide Three. Doctors at the scene estimated that the victim died within three minutes after being caught, due to the compactness of the snow in the canyon. Later examination showed no broken bones. The local Ranger, who participated in the search, estimated that over 50 people worked on the rescue, spending an estimated 1,000 man hours. AVALANCHE DATA Mr. St'. s ski released a small, 12- 18 inch hard slab, which in turn triggered two more avalanches adjacent to the first. The slides occurred on a west exposure, on an estimated 45% slope. Deposition was in a narrow canyon bottom, and flowed down the creek farther than was evident by the debris. These slides would be coded HS- AS- 2. COMMENTS The victim would have been found more quickly had probing started at the toe of all the debris. However, in this case, the eyewitness account and the debris were misleading. The rescuers were searching in what they believed to be the area of highest probability. This is one of several cases where avalanches have carried objects farther down a canyon than evidence indicates or common sense would believe. This rescue again confirms the use-lessness of regular mine detectors or scintilators in searching for objects that are buried several feet under the snow. The " guide cord," used to keep the probers aligned during this resuce, has now become part of standard rescue procedure.. This avalanche was a very small one, sliding down the hill less than 200 feet; yet it killed a man just as easily as could one that ran for several thousand feet. No. 57- 1 ARAPAHOE BASIN. COLORADO 17- 18 January 1957 SUMMARY OF ACCIDENT On 8 January, an intensive storm had dumped 15 inches of new, unstable snow on the ski area. Two high hazard areas, the " Upper North Glade" and the " Palivacinni" were closed while the more heavily skied areas were checked out. Snow and high winds prevailed for the next five days, until an average of 30 inches had fallen. Prior to the 8th, both of these slopes had been extensively checked out with both High Explosives and protective 26 |