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Show No. 57- 4 ST. MARY'S LAKE. COLORADO 24 February 1957 WEATHER FACTORS The two weeks prior to the accident were clear and warm, producing a sun crust on most slopes. On 2 February , three inches of snow fell along the continental divide, with little wind. Early on the 24th, three more inches fell, but accompanied with high winds. On the 24th, three soft slabs were released at Berthoud Pass ( eight miles west of the site) with 12- 18 inch fracture lines. SUMMARY OF ACCIDENT A group of five young men, ages 15- 18, decided to climb a small " glacier above St. Mary's Lake. They missed the regular route to the glacier ( where another party was skiing) and instead began climbing up an avalanche path. The five were single file, but close together. L. led the party, followed by Ge., Gy., M. and F. Approximately 300 feet up the slope, the first three emerged from a small chimney they were climbing in. M. and F. were still in the narrow, rocky chimney when the avalanche released, and were carried back down the chimney by the sliding snow. L., Ge., and Gy. were carried down the main slope over very rough terrain of rocks, small cliffs, brush, and stumps. All five were carried to the bottom. Ge. and F. were not injured seriously, and began rescue of their companions immediately. M. was close to F-, with only his right arm exposed. F. dug him out but found him unconscious with a very severe head injury. He was still breathing. Ge. located L., who was also unconcious. ( He was later found to have a fractured skull and broken arm.) Ge. also located Gy., who suffered a broken leg, pelvis, and back, but was conscious. The slide had released at about 1330 hours. At 1400 hours, F. and Ge. spotted Mr. B. who was skiing in the area. Mr. B. administered first aid and sent F. in a car to the nearest phone. An ambulance was driven to the lake. The three seriously injured were evacuated by skiers in the area to the road, where they were taken to Idaho Springs for emergency treatment, and on to a hospital in Denver. M. died the next day of head injuries. L. and Gy. remained on the critical list for some time, but finally recovered. AVALANCHE DATA The slide was a soft slab ( SS- AS- 2) with a fracture line 12- 18 inches thick. The victims were climbing in an avalanche area that extends for 5/ 8 mile along this mountain slope. The slide they released was only a small area toward the bottom and in the middle of this vast avalanche area. A hangfire avalanche also released some 400 feet above the victims. Its fracture line was 300 yards wide, but because of a high ridge directly above the victims, the snow from this avalanche was deflected to each side of the victims. Had this snow not been diverted, all five would undoubtedly have been buried under several feet of snow, making survival very doubtful. 31 |
