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Show COMMENTS Even experienced snow rangers can't out- guess snow conditions every time. This accident should caution the less experienced who think they have all the answers. The party was spread out for protection, but not nearly far enough. No. 58- 4 BERTHOUD PASS. COLORADO 19 April 1958 WEATHER FACTORS At about 1530 two unidentified young skiers from Denver were riding the chair lift at Berthoud Pass ski area. Both were fifteen, inexperienced, and this was their first time at the Pass. At that time a heavy ground blizzard with wind speeds averaging twenty- six miles per hour had been drifting the snow for about eight and a half hours. There was no snow falling. In the area where the avalanche occurred, about twelve inches of wind- drifted snow were deposited on a sun crust surface. AVALANCHE SUMMARY Just above towers three and four, between the rope barrier and the avalanche release point, the two boys jumped out of the lift. Apparently because of low visibility due to a heavy ground blizzard, the two became lost. They entered the Russell Cliff Area, which is nearly a vertical rock cliff about one hundred feet high and two hundred yards wide. The boy ahead cut loose a twelve inch soft slab. He was carried from the top of the cliff to the bottom, fortunately through the only couloir in the face of the rock. His rate of descent was probably about thirty miles per hour. The fall was cushioned by the snow surrounding the skier. Miraculously, he hit no rocks on his way through the couloir, and escaped injury. His companion avoided the avalanche, but didn't bother to check on the fate of his partner, nor turn in an alarm. Observers below at the lodge and at the Snow Ranger's headquarters saw the avalanche and could see the boy digging himself out and gathering his equipment. Since he obviously wasn't injured, no rescue operations were organized. COMMENT These inexperienced skiers excaped serious injury only by good luck. A similar pair of inexperienced youths in another Colorado ski area were not so fortunate in I965. 46 |