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Show The bodies were removed without incident on the following day by the Weber County Sheriff's office and experienced Forest Service snow rangers. Adequate precautions were taken to avoid any lingering avalanche hazard. COMMENTS Details of this sad day on Mt. Ogden are far from clear. Statements by the participants are wel1- documented, but do not all agree. This case history represents a systhesis of the best available information. Ski patrolmen, ski area operators, snow rangers, rescue group leaders - all those who may some day have to assume leadership of an avalanche rescue are invited to contemplate this report. Divided authority, uncertain leadership, loss of discipline or control over a large rescue group, can all lead to sudden disaster. When an avalanche accident occurs, the hazard is high. Fi rm command, good organization, and exacting care are required to insure that the rescuers do not become rescuees. The same admonition applies to survivors going for help. In this case, an experienced ski- touring party seriously underestimated the avalanche hazard in spite of some obvious warning signs. The final part of their route took them directly into the fracture line zone of steep avalanche paths on the side of John Paul Jones Ridge, just when they were becoming concerned about avalanche hazard. The accident illustrates once more a recurring theme in these case histories: Snow conditions are difficult to judge, but safe routes need not be. When any doubt about snow stability exists, stay off the avalanche paths and especially out of the release zones. No. 58- 3 SILVER CREEK, WASHINGTON 16 March 1958 WEATHER FACTORS The weather during the week prior to 15 March had been clear and sunny; the last snowfall was believed to have occurred about 5 March. An inch of light snow fell on the evening of th 15th, but temperatures that evening and on the 16th were relatively high. ACCIDENT SUMMARY Silver Creek Valley, today the site of the Crystal Mountain Ski Area, lies just to the east of Mt. Rainier National Park. Formerly it was reached by trail from Silver Creek Lodge on the west side of the Chinook Pass highway. On 15 March a party of nine skiers entered the area to survey a potential 44 |