Avalanche Kills Backcountry Skier Near Jackson Hole Mountain Resort In Wyoming

February 17, 2018

Jackson Hole, Wyoming – On Saturday, February 17, 2018 a 30-year-old backcountry skier from Utah was killed in an avalanche on Ralphs Slide in the Rock Springs Canyon south of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming.

The victim and one other skier were outside of the ski area boundary when the accident occurred. The victim triggered the slide, was carried over cliffs, and was partially buried. The other skier was uninjured in the avalanche. JHMR ski patrol responded to the scene. Unfortunately, the victim died of trauma and was pronounced dead on the scene.

According to JHAvalanche.org, the accident took place at 11:00 on Ralphs Slide. It was categorized as a skier triggered soft slab avalanche that was an R2D2. The slide was 24 inches deep and occurred on a south aspect at 9927 feet. The slope angle was 36-40 degrees.

The avalanche report stated, “A skier who left the resort boundary was caught, carried over a cliff and partially buried. The skier suffered trauma and did not survive.” A photo of the slide location is available on JHAvalanche.org. The avalanche danger was rated as considerable at the time of the accident.

USNews.com identified the man as 30-year-old Alexander Marra or Orem, Utah.

We will try to update this post when more information is available.

UPDATE 2/21:

According to JHNewsAndGuide.com, it is believe that Marra was trying to ski M&M Couloir, but ended up in the wrong place. They write that “Marra and his skiing partner were vacationing in Jackson Hole. Marra wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time of the incident and didn’t have any backcountry equipment with him: no transceiver, probe or shovel. His partner did have backcountry equipment, police say.”

Read more about the avalanche in Rock Springs near JHMR in Wyoming from the following sources: