Two Skiers Killed In Avalanche In Lift Accessed Backcountry Terrain Near Jackson Hole Were Not Wearing Avalanche Gear
Jackson, Wyoming – On Sunday, January 24, 2016 a group of three skiers exited the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski area boundary and entered into a popular backcountry zone called Rock Springs. Those skiers triggered an avalanche that was about 200′ wide and were swept over cliffs near Ralphs Slide between Zero G and M&M.
A backcountry guide in the area notified JHMR Ski Patrol about the avalanche incident at 2:28 PM. Ski patrol responded and found a survivor who had grabbed onto a tree. He reported two people missing.
Ski Patrol and local volunteers formed a probe line. They located the first victim at 3:14PM and dug them out by 3:20PM. They dug out the second victim at 3:32PM. One was buried three feet deep, while the other was only buried one foot deep. Both were unresponsive and declared dead at the scene due to trauma.
No one in that party had the appropriate avalanche gear and it appears they were unfamiliar with the terrain. It is reported that the avalanche victims were a 46-year-old male from Australia and a 36 year female from Arizona.
Avalanche Facts From Bridger Teton Avalanche Center
Path: Ralphs Slide
Type: SS
Trigger: AS
Size: R3, D2.5
Depth: 36″
Aspect: SE
Elevation: 9879
Slope: 41-45
We will try to update this post as more information becomes available.
Update 1/26: According to TheGuardian.com, the avalanche victims were Dave Hannagan, 46, a real estate agent from Sydney, Australia and Catherine Grimes, 36, his girlfriend from Arizona.
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Read more about the double avalanche fatality in Rock Springs backcountry outside of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort from these sources:
- Buckrail.com
- Avalanche.org Accident Report
- Jackson Hole News And Guide
- EastIdahoNews.com
- Planet Jackson Hole
- Bridger Teton Avalanche Center Avalanche Events
- TheGuardian.com
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See images of Rock Springs terrain in the Jackson Hole Ski Atlas.
