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Show My right ski was with me. I later found my left ski and one pole about twenty feet from the end of the slide. Missing are one pair of goggles and one pole. Not having found my other ski at the time, I skied to the bottom of the hill on one ski and began filling out this report while the accident was still fresh in my mind. ( J. K. had earlier sent J. R. to close the area at the sign). " J. K. and I even skied into the area again to get material for this report. The same dangerous slab was still there and settled as we skied across it. How much does it take to teach a guy a lesson?" COMMENT None needed. No. 61- 1 ASPEN. COLORADO 23 February 1961 WEATHER FACTORS A total of 27 inches of snow fell during the seven days prior to the accident. Ten inches fell the night before. Winds were estimated at 10- 15 m. p. h. with gusts to 28 m. p. h. for the 12 hours before the slide. The temperature at 0845 hours on the morning of the accident was - 4 F., but was though to be about + 15° to + 20° F. when the slide ran. SUMMARY OF ACCIDENT Two women, Mrs. T. and Mrs. B. were skiing at an established ski area. Because of a recent heavy storm, avalanche warnings had been published in the paper, and were posted throughout the area. The women, both experienced skiers, cut through some timber to reach a small slope 150' x 150', that lies above and to the side of a main ski run. When B. reached the bottom of the slope, she couldn't see her companion. Another skier thought he had seen a small slide and stopped by B. on the main run. They both climbed back to the area and found a small slide, but no trace of T. The time was estimated to be 1415 hours. Another skier who came by was sent to the nearest lift terminal to report the accident. The request given to the patrol was for a toboggan and mentioned nothing about an avalanche. At 1425, two patrolmen arrived with the toboggan, and immediately sent another messenger to sound the proper alarm. These men then made a hasty search of the area for clues. The advance rescue- party arrived at 1438 with six men. B. was very upset and questioning was difficult-- hence the last seen point was never firmly established. The hasty party began probing near a clump of trees that the victim had been skiing above and toward. Finding nothing, a probe line was started using passing skiers and their poles. 64 |
