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Show half from the power plant they came to a small slide, which had come down earlier in the day. It covered the line and went into the creek. They assumed with some justification, that since the snow had already avalanched, the hazard had been eliminated; hence the men felt safe in crossing the siide path. As they started across the slide, B. G. was ahead of Dr. M. S. Just as they reached the center, they heard the snow release near the top of the slope. ( Only the bottom section slid in the earlier avalanche) B. G. shouted a warning to Dr. M. S., though he undoubtedly heard the slide also. Instead of moving backwards out of the slide's path, both men impulsively headed down the slide's path and across the creek, in an attempt to outrun the cascading snow. As long as the two men ran on the packed surface of the old slide, they were able to escape the avalanche, but as they ran off the first slide into the soft snow, both sunk down too far to move any further. Dr. M. S. sunk into the snow much further than B. G.; his hands were at the level of the other man's feet. Just as B. G. reached out to help him, the wet, heavy snow slammed into the two men. Though he attempted to kick himself free, B. G. was buried up to his waist. He watched another wave of snow run towards him, but fortunately it stopped short of his position. Dr. M. S. was completely buried. B. G. worked himself free and frantically began to dig for his companion. He worked alone for some time, but the snow was so hard that he could make little headway. He continued to dig until he felt that either his friend was dead or that he might be in an air pocket. If the latter were true, the best thing B. G. could do was to get help. When he reported the accident in Afton, many people immediately responded. Forty or fifty men with shovels went into the area. A short while later Dr. M. S.' s body was found. Although a doctor at the scene knew the man was dead, a resuscitator of the Afton Fire Department was used in vain effort to revive him. COMMENTS The assumption that a slide path is safe after an avalanche has come down is a sound one, if there are no other potential slides left hanging. The latter situation is sometimes difficult to recognize. In this case the victims were unaware of the remaining hazard. Later release of the upper part of slab, as happened here, is an unusual occurrence. Why it was triggered at the fatal moment remains a mystery. ( See report No. 65- 2 also.) This accident also points out the futility of trying to " outrun" an avalanche down the slope. 77 |