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Show Her safety bindings did not release, and she was unable to swim with the avalanche although she attempted to do so after being pulled down. She remained visible to the other members of the party until she was buried by nearly 3 feet of snow at the bottom. The weight of the snow prevented her from moving or maintaining an air space with her arms. She was conscious after being buried, but lost consciousness before the other members of the group dug her out. Fortunately, one ski remained visible above the snow and she was located and dug out approximately four or five minutes after the slide occurred. She regained consciousness as soon as her face was uncovered, and was uninjured. AVALANCHE DATA The Shockwave from the first avalanche set off additional slides in the area. Three slides occurred on the south and west sides of the Cirque. These were each approximately 400 feet wide and 300 feet long. The bottom of the slides did not overlap. At the same time, a longer slide occurred about 300 yards down the canyon on the east side. This slide was about 800 feet long and 50 feet wide. COMMENTS This tour was undertaken during a period of very high avalanche hazard. It might better have been postponed, or a safer route chosen. But careful adherence by the party to wide spacing between skiers in dangerous terrain averted a possibly much more serious accident. This Cardiff Pass accident also illustrates the value of prompt action by the survivors. A few minutes delay could have been fatal. No. 64- 2 JACKSON. WYOMING 20 January 1964 WEATHER FACTORS On the night of 18 January a severe storm with strong winds and heavy snow began in Jackson Hole. This storm, which continued through the night of the 19th, brought the temperature to a minimum of 10 degrees. As the storm subsided, the temperature rose to a high of 35° at noon on 20 January. At Snow King Mountain ski area there was an eight- inch total of new snow. As a result of the storm, there was extensive cornice build- up on the upper runs and also a general wind- pack condition. Early on the morning of the 20th, two professional ski patrolmen began control work on the ski slopes. Beginning at the upper lift terminal, they worked east along the ridges to Elk Run. In some areas there was limited cornice breakoff, but no slides; on two occasions work produced small wind ( hard) slab avalanches. The Upper 93 |