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Show along the bottom of Taylor Canyon, a long and difficult trail, but relat free of avalanche hazard. RESCUE The rescue party was organized with the aid of Sheriff's Deputies, Forest Service personnel and members of the National Ski Patrol. At 6: 30 p. m. nine men, three on snowshoes and six on skis, were dispatched under the direction of Ski Patrol Leader R. N. as the hasty search party. They were equipped with a radio and shovels. At 7: 05 p. m. a second party, consisting of ten men all on snowshoes, left for the scene of the accident, carrying probes, shovels flashlights, rations, pack sacks, and radios. At 7: 30 p. m. a third rescue team with more equipment left for the accident scene. The three rescue parties had an extremely difficult time reaching the scene of the accident. Soft snow and heavy brush made travel almost impossible for the men without snowshoes. Many of the rescuers did not make it to the accident scene due to exhaustion. The first men to arrive at the scene talked immediately with A. R. about the results of his search, the possible location of the victim, and details of the slide. A. R. then started down from the slide. His son had left an hour earlier, and had gone directly home without reporting to the base camp. Approximately 15 men began the search for the lost ranger. The party was directed to break into two groups; the five most experienced and energetic volunteers were sent up the slide to probe for the victim or his equipment, while the remaining members began probing upwards from the terminus of the slide. As more men arrived they assisted with the probing. By approximately 1: 30 a. m. all crews, involving 19 men, had worked their way down to the probe line near the bottom. The slide had now been searched over its entire surface without success. Due to the darkness and the exhaustion of the searchers, it was decided to discontinue the search until morning. On the morning of 30 March, a helicopter and experienced personnel from the Wasatch National Forest and the Alta and Park City Ski Patrols were organized to help. Assistance also came from local Forest Service, Ski Patrol and Mountain Rescue personnel. E. L. of the Wasatch National Forest assumed direction of the search party. A helicopter landing pad was located and the area was checked for further avalanche hazard. At 7: 00 a. m. a 16- man rescue group, consisting of trained foresters and ski patrolmen, was ferried to the scene by helicopter. Two men were assigned to act as avalanche guards, posted on promontories above the slide path. The rescue group was divided into two parties, one to search the probable fall line of the victim, the other to probe systematically the lower slide path. A relief crew and rations were provided by the helicopter. At 12: 45 p. m. the body of L. A. was located by probe line in the main deposition zone. The victim was close to the center! ine of the slide path, some 200 feet or more below the cliffs in the lower gully, and in the deepest part of the deposition zone. The body was horizontal, oriented about 45 degrees to the fall line, buried about 5 feet deep at the head, and about 107 |
