JACKSON, Wyo. — The yo-yo weather that the valley is receiving this winter has not been kind to the backcountry snowpack. This sentiment is being echoed around the West, as well as in Canada and Europe, with major avalanche events taking place on a seemingly regular basis.
Last Tuesday’s tragic Castle Peak slide near Lake Tahoe has affected people in many corners, while there have been two skier fatalities in British Columbia, Canada, due to avalanches in the last week. A snowmobiler died in an avalanche outside of Island Park, Idaho, and Utah’s Wasatch Range recorded its third avalanche fatality within a week, both on Sunday. Powder magazine stated that the Utah incident was the 13th avalanche death nationwide in just seven days. According to the BBC, Europe has already seen 95 avalanche fatalities this season. The U.S. Embassy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein put out an avalanche danger weather alert on Friday, Feb. 20, for parts of Switzerland’s alpine regions. Western Wyoming has seen its own dire accidents, with two backcountry avalanche fatalities earlier in the season.
“It has been tragic week for the backcountry community, with avalanche fatalities in California, Idaho, and Utah, as well as Canada and Europe,” wrote Teton Backcounty Alliance in a Tuesday social media post. “The Teton Backcountry Alliance mourns the loss of fellow backcountry travelers and extends heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of victims.”
After the Castle Peak avalanche in California, Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) shared the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office update on Facebook, adding its own message: “We are heartbroken about the news coming out of Tahoe, and send our deepest condolences to all those involved. We know that for SAR volunteers, this is as difficult as it gets.”
Teton County Idaho Search and Rescue shared the same post, writing: “Search and rescue is hard work physically. It’s even harder work mentally, especially when your team is struck with such a loss. In small mountain communities, often we have to bring home our friends, neighbors, and sometimes our spouses. Our thoughts and our prayers are with all those involved.”
Those affected by these tragic accidents are urged to access local mental health resources. And as the winter season slogs onward, let these incidents be a reminder that avalanches can happen even after taking all human precautions to reduce danger. Risk assessment and, ultimately, the decision to “go or don’t go” falls on the skier. On Wednesday morning, Snow King Mountain performed avalanche mitigation work. In-town skiers should take note that when the blue strobe lights at each base area are flashing, uphill traffic is closed until control work is complete.
As search and rescue professionals around the country wade through the back-to-back-to-back tragic accidents and grief, they continue to respond and educate. This winter marks the 12th season of TCSAR’s backcountry gate survey program with Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR). On Tuesday, TCSAR shared some important statistics on social media from last year’s survey results. TCSAR received 12 callouts from JHMR sidecountry last year, tied with the number of callouts originating in the Togwotee Pass area. Around 17% of skiers who exited the resort boundary gates left without a beacon, shovel or probe. Solo skiers accounted for 14% of backcountry users, and all solo travelers were male. According to TCSAR, 70% of users had checked the avalanche forecast beforehand, and over 75% had an avy level one training as their highest avalanche education.
For those who still pine for some fresh backcountry tracks, be proactive and prepared, read the forecast, bring a partner, and as they say in JHMR’s aerial tram: “If you don’t know, don’t go.”
Some of the above quotes include punctuation added for clarity by Buckrail.
