Skier Dies After Ducking Ski Area Boundary Rope At Grand Targhee, Plunging Through Cornice, Triggering Avalanche, And Being Swept Over Large Cliffs
Grand Targhee Resort, Wyoming – At 4:02 PM on Sunday, February 21, 2016 Ernesto Rodriguez-Becerra, 30, of Jackson removed his skis and crossed under a closed ski area boundary rope line near the observation deck and NitWits at Grand Targhee Ski Resort. He walked onto a cornice and subsequently broke through the cornice. When he hit the slope below, he triggered an avalanche that carried him over a cliff.
Grand Targhee Ski Patrol responded and an Avalanche Dog found the avalanche victim buried two feet deep in avalanche debris. The victim suffered significant trauma.
This soft slab avalanche occurred on a path called Fred’s Saddle Backside at an elevation of 9736′ on an East aspect located at Lat: 43.789211 Lng: -110.934776. The start zone was 41-45 degrees. The Bridger Teton Avalanche Center notes that it is a R2 D2 slide triggered by foot penetration.
This is the 20th avalanche fatality in the US for the 2015/2016 season.
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Read more about the avalanche fatality near Grand Targhee Resort from these sources:
- CAIC Avalanche Accident Report
- Avalanche.org Avalanche Accident Report
- Bridger Teton Avalanche Center Fatality Information
- EastIdahoNews.com
