| OCR Text |
Show Rescue parties were unable to locate him by probing. His body was finally recovered by trenching 48 hours later, under six feetof snow near the tip of the debris. AVALANCHE DATA Reports on this accident are based largely on oral tradition. Several photographs exist which show the fracture line, trail of the victim, and the rescue. From these a medium to large hard slab, HS- AS- 3 or 4 is deduced. COMMENTS This is a classic example of an ill- chosen touring route. Crossing the middle of the avalanche path offers the greatest prospect of triggering it. This particular path has long been known as a particularly dangerous one, for even a shallow layer of sliding snow will accumulate to great depths in the Snake Pit. No. 51- 1 ARAPAHOE BASIN. COLORADO 18 November 1951 WEATHER FACTORS A five day storm in mid- November, 1951, had deposited 17 inches of snow at Arapahoe Basin ski area and had been accompanied by high winds. Snow conditions were very unstable, and numerous slides were observed as a result of the storm. ACCIDENT SUMMARY As a result of the intense storm, a number of avalanches had run. The Number Two slide of the " Seven Sisters" area on Loveland Pass buried the highway under 6 feet of snow. On Sunday, 18 November, two skiers ignored warning signs at Arapahoe Basin ski area, and skied down the West Wall area. The first skier on the slope made several turns, then traversed into an adjacent slope which avalanched with him. His point of entry was about j way down the slide path. He was carried to the bottom, and completely buried except for one hand. His partner witnessed the slide and, with the help of other skiers who had seen the accident from the lift, dug out the trapped skier. 14 |
