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Show saddle near Mt. Ogden. The route proposed by A. R. ran near the ridge dividing Taylor Canyon and Malan Basin. This route was safe and free from avalanches. A. R. assured the rangers that he did not intend to enter the obviously hazardous area south of Malan's Basin. The two snow rangers travelled considerably behind A. R. and his son. Upon approaching the Taylor Canyon drainage - Malan Basin ridge, A. R. and his son deviated from the planned, safe route without consulting the rangers. They crossed the ridge and dropped into the Taylor Canyon drainage on a north facing slope. They then traversed along the Taylor Canyon side of the ridge in a westerly direction. The rangers immediately recognized the danger of entering this area and shouted a warning. The warning apparently was not heard. The rangers then attempted to overtake the two skiers; they were thus forced to enter terrain that they knew to be extremely dangerous. Due to the thickness of the trees, the party travelled well into the slide area before realizing that the danger was so immediate. Practicing the safety precautions that they had been taught, the rangers skied to the protection of a large tree. P. J. stopped above the tree and his partner below. At the same time, A. R. and his son realized the slide danger and also stopped. They were located about 15 feet out and 15 feet below the two rangers. The time was 4: 15 p. m. It was hurriedly decided to return to the top of the ridge by the same route they had entered. While A. R. was attempting to execute a kick turn, Ranger P. J. felt and saw the snow directly in front of him and above A. R. start to move. He yelled for the party to grab a tree, and when he saw that A. R. and his son were already engulfed in the slide shouted to them to " swim for your lives!" The slide lasted approximately 50 seconds. As the slide came to rest, P. J. could find no trace of his partner near the tree. He removed his skis and proceeded through the slide area searching for the three members of the party. He found A. R. and his son high in the slide area and suffering only minor injuries. No trace of the other ranger could be found. Neither the doctor nor his son had seen him in the slide. It was decided that P. J. would continue down the slide area searching for the lost ranger, and if he could not find any evidence, go for help. While checking in and around the trees where A. R. had been deposited, a ski belonging to the ranger was found sticking out of the snow, east of where the doctor was located. A ski pole was spotted about 50 feet below the ski. It seemed reasonably certain that L. A. had been carried below the other members of the party. A. R. and his son were instructed to continue checking the upper area around all trees and rocks wherever deposition was found. P. J. moved down the slide path, checking the deposition at the bottom thoroughly. No further evidence of L. A. was found. After searching for approximately 20 minutes, P. J. headed for help. About 5: 20 p. m., after fighting a trail heavy with scrub oak thickets, he reached a telephone and contacted the Sheriff's Office. He then notified the Forest Service and Ski Patrol. He recommended that a rescue party follow the route 106 |