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Show ACCIDENT SUMMARY At about 3: 00 p. m. on 31 December, three young boys living near Furnace Creek in the Taberg area headed for the slopes along the creek to play in the snow. The boys, T. V., 14, D. M., 13, and D. A., liked to " kick the ripples off the hill" from above and watch the snow fall. By 3: 30, D. A. was getting cold and decided to return home. The other two went on to a point above the creek. The grades on this slope range from very steep at the top to 35 degrees ( 70%) at the bottom. Parts of the slope are heavily timbered, but certain areas contain only very sparse vegetation. Most of these potential slide areas are not over thirty feet in width. Apparently while the two boys were kicking off the cornices along the ridge top, they triggered an avalanche, which swept them about three hundred feet down the slope. Both were completely covered by the snow. RESCUE At 4: 30 p. m. when the two boys failed to return, relativesgrew concerned. At 6: 50 local firemen were called out to search the area. When the search party arrived at the slope, they found ample evidence of slide activity. Probably these slides had been triggered by the boys either on the 31st or on the day before. During the search, a father and his son released another slide. As they walked across the area, the two heard a crunch, and the snow started moving. The father was able to get out of the slide area, while his son hung on to a tree with the snow passing by on either side. Neither was hurt. The search party was large rescue. Slides occur so i considered the possibility Darkness also slowed searc light. Finally, after sea R. D., discovered some sing surface snow and exposed a one of the boys had lost a body of D. M. As soon as h tion was attempted. Despi the boy. Another searcher D. M. Both apparently died , but was not organized specifically for avalanche nfrequently in the area that residents scarcely that the boys had been buried in an avalanche, h efforts, which had to be conducted by flash rching for some time, one of the searchers, Rev. le tracks leading to an area where he kicked the boot. Even then, his first reaction was that shoe. However, further digging uncovered the is face was exposed, mouth to mouth resuscitate their efforts, rescuers were unable to revive uncovered the body of T. V. about three feet from from suffocation. COMMENTS Steep slopes and the right snow conditions can make an avalanche anywhere. See also Report No. 64- 11. 81 |