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Show COMMENTS The goal of the party was to stabilize some of the slopes east of the regularly controlled ski area. The party succeeded, but not by a recommended method, nor in a way that they expected to. A number of mistakes were made. After such a storm, slopes of this size should never be " test" skied. Explosives are cheaper than false teeth or a funeral. If necessary to ski such a slope, only one man should be on the path at once, and then belayed. Proper explosives should be used for avalanche control work. These men were very lucky that they were merely battered and bruised. No. 58- 2 SNOW BASIN. UTAH 9 March 1958 WEATHER FACTORS Between 3 March and 8 March, the weather at Snow Basin was good. No new snow fell in this period, and a hard crust formed on the surface on the old snow. On 8 March a severe storm moved into the area, dropping six inches of new snow at the Forest Service shelter and ten inches on John Paul Jones ridge. High winds accompanying the storm created snow slab conditions on the northerly exposed slopes. An examination of the snow conditions on 10 March indicated that warm temperatures had existed during the first part of the storm and approximately two inches of pellet snow were deposited on the hard crust. As the storm continued, temperatures dropped, bringing an eight- inch layer of powder snow. At the time the first avalanche released, the snow still had not bonded and a hazard persisted. By the evening of 8 March, the storm subsided; by noon on 9 March, the overcast skies began to clear. Skiers reported that strong winds were blowing at the higher elevations near the summit of Mt. Ogden, but that it was nearly calm in the lower elevations in the vicinity of the chair lift. ACCIDENT SUMMARY At approximately 10: 30 a. m. on 9 March, four skiers arrived at Snow Basin to begin a one- day ski tour. All of the men in the party had been skiing for many years. They were experienced in touring, having toured in the same general area for years. It was the first time that all four had skied together. Originally the men had intended to tour at Brighton; however, on calling the Alpine Rose Lodge, F. M. learned that heavy new snows made touring in that area hazardous. Consequently the group decided to go to Snow Basin. 37 |