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Show No. 60- 3 SUPERIOR CREEK. IDAHO 9 March I960 ACCIDENT SUMMARY The Fall River Electric Cooperative of Ashton, Idaho, maintains a radio relay station at the head of Superior Creek on the Targhee National Forest, about twelve miles west of Driggs, Idaho. On 9 March, the company sent three men into the station to repair an electric line. The men were able to go part way by snow- cat, but planned to use snow shoes to travel the final distance to the station. By about 1: 00 p. m., the men started across an open slope about a quarter of a mile below the relay station. As the three were crossing a slide path, a four- hundred foot wide avalanche released above them. One of the men, R. P., saved himself by catching hold of a tree, but the snow completely engulfed C. H. The third man, B. C., was injured by the crushing force of the snow, but remained on the surface on the half- mile long slide. RESCUE R. P., who was uninjured, tried to carry B. C. out of the area. However, after a half mile, he became exhausted and was forced to leave the injured man. Giving B. C. all the clothes he could spare, R. P. went to get help. Men from Driggs rescued B. C. as quickly as possible, but he died a short time later in the Driggs hospital. The Driggs sheriff notified the district ranger of the accident, and requested help in organizing a search party to rescue the third victim. The ranger responded immediately, but rescue operations were postponed until 6: 00 a. m. on the following day, since men coming in from the area reported blizzard conditions. In the meantime the county sheriff, officials of the State Highway Patrol, and the ranger planned the next day's operations. They ordered a snow- cat and weasels from the Highway Department and the telephone company, had probes made from electric conduit, and arranged for transportation, food and snowshoes. An estimate of the number of men needed was made and additional help was requested from the Driggs National Guard. However, they reported that they were under orders not to participate in the search unless the area had been checked for hazards from other slides The Targhee National Forest Supervisor arranged for an avalanche expert from Jackson Hole to assist in the search. At 6: 00 a. m. the following morning, the search party assembled at the Power Cooperative's office. The searchers were able to drive to within three miles of the slide as the county had plowed the road as far as Horseshoe Canyon. From there the party traveled about two miles by weasel, and went the last mile on foot. They arrived at the slide about 9: 00 a. m. with twenty men and immediately radioed back that more help was needed. Since the area appeared safe for working, the National Guard was mobilized. The men were organized into crews and began working at the lower end of the slide, where the ranger laid out guide lines with string. Several people checked behind trees and other places directly below where the men had been caught. 56 |