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Show No. 58- 1 LOVELAND BASIN, COLORADO 12 February 1958 WEATHER FACTORS A storm lasting for several days had deposited 12- 16 inches of snow in the area. Winds were strong and of sufficient duration to indicate probable avalanche hazard. SUMMARY OF ACCIDENT Three professional ski patrolmen decided to stabilize some of the snow fields east of the main ski area. These areas are outside the regular avalanche control area, and beyond posted signs reading " Avalanche Danger, do not ski beyond this sign." The party put a small charge of eight sticks of 50% dynamite at the top of one slope. This area is behind an old snow fence and the snow here was solidly packed from drifting. No settlement or snow movement took place. The group then worked their way downward, crossing over a rocky bench over 100 feet wide and blown nearly clear of snow. The slope below the bench is approximately 600 yards long, and an obvious avalanche path. A cornice had developed along the western ridge of the path. Two of the patrolmen, E. and P., tried to knock off some of the cornice without much success. No high explosives were used. The third man, 0. remained at the top of the slide path. P. and E. skied out into the slide path, followed by O. at the top. The avalanche was probably triggered by 0. He was caught just below the fracture line, and carried 500 feet down the western edge of the slide. He remained on the surface and suffered no injuries. P. and E. were about 100 feet below 0. P. was carried 100 feet down the slope through small trees. He was partially buried, but dug himself out. His injuries were a broken nose, two broken ribs, abrasions around the face, lips, and nose, torn ligaments in his left knee, eight teeth knocked out and several others loosened, and multiple bruises over his body. One ski remained on-- the other came off. Both poles came off. One glove with the pole strap still around it was found hanging in a tree, five feet above the snow surface. E. saw the avalanche before it hit him, and attempted to ski away from it to the east. He was caught, however, and the impact tore both his skis from his boots. The slide carried him 400 feet and completely buried him in a sitting position. E. was able to extract his own arms and head from the snow, but it was necessary for his companions to dig out his legs. AVALANCHE DATA The avalanche was a hard slab, with 8- 12 inches of depth hoar under the older snow. Fracture line varied from three to five feet deep, with some larger pieces of the slab ( some desk- size remaining intact at the bottom. This slide would be classified as: HS- AS- 3. Slope- 60%. 35 |