An extraordinary avalanche winter in , Special avalanche conditions – and the Tromdalen avalanche disaster.

Ragnar Glomseth1,2, Tor André Skjelbakken1, Knut Fredriksen2,3 1Tromsø Red Cross Avalanche Rescue Team, Jonas Lies gt 31, 9009 Tromsø 2Anaestehsia and Critical Care Research Group, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, 3Division of Emergency Medical Services, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø.

KEYWORDS: Avalanche, rescue, accident

ABSTRACT This winter (12/13) was one of the most challenging ever for the regional avalanche rescue team in Tromsø, Norway, with (per 26 April) a total of 17 avalanche callouts and major incidents and several minor incidents. Six people died in four fatal avalanches. At least four other were caught without being buried in the snow. Two of the survivors used inflatable avalanche backpacks. In addition several highways and regional roads were frequently closed, often for long periods of time because of avalanches or avalanche danger. One road was closed for seven days before the ten meter deep avalanche debris could be cleared.

The most significant and challenging event was the avalanche in Tromdalen, Senja, South of Tromsø on 26 March. Three snowmobilers were killed in the accident, and due to avalanche danger in an obvious terrain trap at the scene of the accident, the rescue operation had to be postponed for ten days. When rescue finally was safe it involved 300 rescuers from the police, volunteers, military and private organisations. The remaining avalanche danger on scene had to be cleared by use of Daisy Bell and military explosives. Debris was removed using two pisten bully and one excavator. The operation took four days before all three victims were located and removed, making this the largest avalanche rescue operation in Norway.

Corresponding author address: Ragnar Glomseth, Naustbuktvegen 27 , 9107 Kvaløya, Norway. Tel: +47 992 40 129, email: [email protected]

1148 Except from the cities the county is very sparsely 1 BACKGROUND populated (average 6 inhabitants/sq km) and there are only two highways (E6 and E8) through the The city Tromsø is located at almost 70 °N is the county. county capitol of Troms. The city has a population of almost 70.000, approximately half of the entire population of the county. The western, coastal part of the county has an alpine topography with mountains ranging up 1800 meters from the seashore.

In Tromsø there is a University with approximately 15.000 students and staff. The University Hospital of North Norway in Tromsø, which is the Norwegian hospital with most extensive experience in treating avalanche victims, holds the world record for resuscitation from accidental 1 hypothermia .

Norway Troms Schweiz

2 Area (km ) 324.000 26.000 41.000 Population (millions) ≈ 5 0,15 ≈ 8

2 Density (people/km ) 35 6 188 Avalanche fatalities 2012/13 82 6 213

4 Fatalities per 1000 capita (last season) 0,0016 0,04 0,026

Table 1. Norway and Troms compared to Switzerland

1 Gilbert M, Busund R, Skagseth A, Nilsen PA, Solbø JP.; Resuscitation from accidental hypothermia of 13.7 degrees C with circulatory arrest.; Lancet. 2000 Jan 29;355(9201):375-6.; 1 2 http://www. ngi.no/no/snoskred/Ulykker/ 3 http://www.slf.ch/praevention/lawinenunfaelle/unfa elle_aktuell/index_EN 4 Tourists not included.

1149 has been relatively stable since 1986, when 16 2 AVALANCHES DURING 2000-2009 IN NORWAY soldiers were killed in the Vassdalen-avalanche. AND TROMS The average has changed dramatically the last four years, and the increase has been particularly During the previous decade there were 43 or profound in the county of Troms. In the years 2010, typically 2-4 avalanche fatalities per year in 2011, 2012 and 2013 there was 10, 13, 7 and 8 Norway. 11 of the 43 occurred in Troms (26% or fatalities in tota, and of these 2, 1, 5 and 6 approximately one per year). The yearly average occurred in Troms.

Figure 1. Avalanche fatalities in Norway last ten years showing a significant increase the last four years.

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Figure 2. Comparison of avalanche fatalities in Norway as a whole versus the county of Troms. The increase in Troms has been significantly higher than the rest of Norway. The relatively stable one fatality per year in Troms has increased dramatically to five and six the last two years.

3 ALL NORWEGIAN FATAL AVALANCHES THE WINTER OF 2012/13 IN TROMS: 3.1 AND THE REST OF NORWAY: 17.03.13: Snowboarder in backcountry area, Kattfjordeidet, Tromsø 5 24.12.12: Snowboarder in "Totten", in the ski resort 24.03.13: Off-piste skier, near the Kroken ski-lift, in Hemsedal.8 Tromsø6 03.01.13: Alpine Climber in Skogshorn mountain in 26.03.13: Three snowmobilers in remote back- Hemsedal9 country area of Tromdalen, Senja, Troms7 21.04.13: Skier on a guided tour, Kåfjord, Troms

5 http://www.ngi.no/upload/Snøskred/Ulykkesrapport er/ulykker_2013_17mars_Kattfjordeidet.pdf 8 6 http://www.ngi.no/upload/Snøskred/Ulykkesrapport http://www.ngi.no/upload/Snøskred/Ulykkesrapporter er/ulykker_2013_24mars_Kroken.pdf /ulykker_2012_Des24_Hemsedal.pdf 7 9 http://www.ngi.no/upload/Snøskred/Ulykkesrapporter http://www.ngi.no/upload/Snøskred/Ulykkesrapporter /ulykker_2013_26mars_Senja.pdf /ulykker_2013_3jan_skogshorn.pdf

1151 4 WEATHER AND SNOW SITUATION

Figure 3. The image shows a typical quick-pit recorded to http://www.regobs.no/ this winter. The loose faceted layer between 140 and 150 cm was present as a continuous weak layer in all aspects in the whole county. A very thin ice crust or a thin, hard layer of melt-frozen crystal was commonly found on top of this layer. Most of the avalanches in the last part of the winter were triggered on this hard layer. The layer was also present in the Langfjellaksla, Kroken and Tromdalen avalanche sites.

See Appendix Timeline for a meteogram.

We believe that the faceted snow layer may have depth increased almost 50 cm in the city and on 24 been formed during the cold and dry first weeks of March the next fatal accident occurred (Appendix: February. The last week of February was warm 11). This marked the start of a series (Appendix: (+5C) and humid (80 mm precipitation in three 12,,20) of avalanche incidents, including the triple days). It did probably rain as high as 1000 m asl. fatal Tromdalen accident (Appendix: 13), taking a This is probably tha cause of the ice/melt-frozen great toll on the volunteer avalanche rescue team. crust. In mid April the temperature increased considerably (+10 °C at 17 April) causing several The warm period was followed by snow. The snow new avalanches (Appendix: 21,,25, 27) in the end depth in the city of Tromsø increased by almost 30 of the season. cm in a few days, and the snowfall was even more The last avalanche period this winter was during profound in the surrounding mountains. This led to mid May, when the temperature increased to 20 °C several avalanche incidents (Appendix: 7,8,9) at and caused numerous sun-triggered avalanches 17March the first fatal accident occurred (Appendix: 29,,31) (Appendix, Table: 10). After a week with less precipitation snow showers reappeared during the Easter holiday. The snow

1152 5 ORGANISATION OF RESCUE SERVICES the situation through a conference telephone call and and an initial tactical plan is made. The team The police in Tromsø operates the emergency member and the dog handler closest to the telephone (112) and is the Local Rescue helicopter base will join the helicopter crew and Coordination Centre (LRCC) for the northern part become the initial first response team. The other of the county of Troms. All incidents described member of the team will start out using ground here lie within the Tromsø LRCC catchment area. transport in the direction of the avalanche site. The available resources in the district include police avalanche dogs, an ambulance-helicopter, Other avalanche team members are in the county a volunteer avalanche rescue team and several may live closer to the scene and may arrive on volunteer rescue organisations. There are two scene first and may start the initial search before large rescue helicopters in , the helicopter team arrives.. The ambulance located in Bodø and Banak, but they are located helicopter may be busy with ambulance missions more than one hour flying time away from Tromsø and not be immediately available for the initial and therefore rarely a relevant first response response resource.

When an avalanche is reported to 112 the police immediately scrambles all available resources. The avalanche rescue team is quickly is briefed with

The first responders are followed by available or necessary resources. The Red Cross, People Aid, 6 THE TROMDALEN AVALANCHE Rescue Dog have many trained volunteer (unpaid) rescuers - most with considerable real avalanche At 26 March at 16.38 hours the regional rescue experience. The second wave of responders will authorities received a call-out to the Senja island bring more heavy equipment such as heavy for three missing snowmobilers. Friends had shovels, long probes, power generators and light, followed snowmobile-tracks until they disappeared and communication equipment. If the operation is into an avalanche in a narrow valley. It was an large or takes long time the governmental Civil accurate and alarming message that triggered Defence organisation and even the Army and mobilisation of all available resources. AirForce may be used.

1153 The three missing men were on Easter holiday in their cabins in Svanelvdalen valley together with The following day the weather was still bad and the their families, which they left at about 12 this fatal risk of further search was considered still Tuesday. Two of the men were brothers. They had unacceptably high. The situation was examined by planned to go by snowmobiles to visit a friend’s avalanche experts from the NGI and the cabin in a parallel valley, on the other side of a Norwegian Red Cross. Together with the police mountain massif. In the afternoon, as they did not authorities it was decided that further work at the return to the cabin, a friend followed their trails to scene had to await improvement in the weather look for them. He found that all tracks ended in a conditions that would allow active efforts to narrow valley that was filled by the debris of recent increase the safety for rescuers. This would require avalanches. use of either Daisy Bell or explosives to remove the threatening masses. The weather forecast for Local rescue authorities were scrambled, and a the period 7-10 days ahead was bad, with wind, rescue operation was launched. Due to bad snow and rising temperature. Only short periods of weather and nightfall, helicopters could not acceptable weather were expected At this point in approach the scene. With considerable risk and in time, a decision was made to hold further rescue deep snow, the avalanche rescue team made a efforts strenuous and long detour to enter the valley from Northern side, that was considered safest. From up Days passed by without any active search , and to 300 m elevation, multiple avalanches had struck quite understandably, this caused frustration to from several steep couloirs along the south side of relatives of the missing. The number of questions the valley. They all ended in the bottom at an area was rising, and the need of answers too. approximately 150 m long and 20-60 m wide. Local psychosocial team was engaged from the Debris had been pushed 30-40 m upwards the day of accident, and supported relatives as best opposite side of the narrow valley. When possible, together with fellow townsmen. All the avalanches struck, the snowmobilers had most three missing men came from the same probably been trapped at the low point of this community, Berg, with of only some hundred terrain-trap. The rescue-team observed residents. Berg is a small community where people considerable snow masses left in several couloirs through times have lived close to the ocean, at south side of the valley, representing a depending on fisheries as source of food and considerablerisk for new avanaches. Search using income. A number of fatal accidents at sea have transceivers, dogs and RECCO gave no results. left the community with experience in handling One snowmobile was found at approximately 1,5m tragic incidents. Probably, no family in the depth. Dogs showed some interest to a few areas, community has throughout the years escaped but probing these sites gave no further findings. 5 without painful losses of friends and relatives. m probes were used, but due to compact debris probing at this depth was nearly impossible. The Rumours told that the lack of official search-effort debris was at least 5-6m deep. As the hours had led to friends and relatives conducting private passed by, weather became increasingly searches in the valley, despite the fact that all challenging and nightfall was complete. The traffic had been prohibited. A feared scenario was possibility for survival for the three missing persons private searches leading to more people getting was considered to be minimal, and the risk of new buried by new avalanches. avalanches was high. The safety of the rescuers on the scene was considered unacceptable, and To provide the most exact information available, therefore all resources pulled out at approximately and to answer questions, a meeting was arranged 20.40 in the evening. Some probes and flags were in the community centre 4 days after the accident left at the scene to mark areas indicated by the The supreme leader from the police authorities met rescue dogs, and the position where the together with an anaesthesiologist from the snowmobile was found. regional Air Ambulance service who had supported

1154 police authorities with medical advices on the day 1,5m depth in the eastern end of the avalanche. of the accident. One person from Red Cross This was pointing in western direction, and was regional avalanche rescue-team, who had found tilted to the right nearly 90 degrees. No participated at the reconnaissance the day after snowmobiler had been located or indicated near the accident did also meet. The relatives were this. The turning tracks, helmet and the located given the most accurate and robust information snowmobile raised many questions about the about the decision-making, and background for sequence of events. It was found most likely that terminating the search for survivors. The doctor they were buried by at least two different explained the medical reasoning behind the avalanches that hit the same area. At 13 o´clock decisions that had been made, and that it had on the day of accident, a friend received a call from been considered that no survivors could be found one of the missing. When the call was answered, when search was terminated. In addition, the he sounded stressed and said he did not had time dangerous situation for the rescue personnel was to talk, before he cancelled the call. He was the explained, and that improved weather was owner of the located snowmobile, and helmet. necessary to launch the huge operation needed to locate and excavate their missing sons and friends. The developing hypothesis was that he was not When this meeting was over, relatives were left buried by the first avalanche, but left his with a better understanding of the situation, and snowmobile to go searching for the other two. the decisions that had been made by the While doing this he took of his helmet which he left authorities. at the stone, and he picked up his mobile to call for help. While doing this he got caught by a second Weather forecasts were not promising, and police avalanche. Due to information from friends and authorities, military forces, and voluntary rescue relatives it was known that they did not carry personnel used this time to plan the coming transcievers. Possibly one of them had a RECCO operation. Several possibilities were considered. reflector in his jacket, but neither RECCO- or There was now a consensus that no effort would transciever-search gave any results when used at be launched until the scene was considered safe. the day of the accident. This meant either to wait for spring, or active actions to remove the threatening snow masses. It was considered two main strategies for To wait two months for spring seemed recovering and excavating the missing; localization unacceptable, and a plan to remove the massive by Geo-radar and verification by vapor probe, or a avalanche debris by use of piston bullies and more comprehensive alternative by probing with excavators was chosen. The scene of accident personnel down to 2m depth, thereafter removing was positioned approximately 3 km from road, so debris by piston bullies and excavator, before selection and preparation of tracks was done probing once again and so on. GeoRadar was not thoroughly. available, so the comprehensive last alternative proved to be the only solution. 6.1 Search strategy: As there were no eyewitnesses to the avalanche, the exact sequence of events was not known. The operation was conducted in two phases: Tracks indicated that the missing snowmobilers had been buried in the debris. Multiple tracks led Phase 1: Secure the scene into the valley. Beyond the avalanches, at the In the evening of Thursday 4 April, nine days after western end of the scene, one single track which the accident, the weather conditions were made a U-turn and went back again had been accepted and the operation was started. A observed. In this end of the deposition area it was snowfall of more than 50-60 cm and westerly found a helmet which seemed intentionally left at a winds following the accident had led to several peaking stone within the avalanche debris. One large avalanches that covered the accident scene, snowmobile had been located at approximately and left considerable snow masses on several

1155 areas at both sides of the valley. Norwegian necessary to clear areas within the avalanche for military forces supported the operation with debris deposition. necessary competence on explosives. Together with avalanche professionals from NGI, and Probing in the hard masses was exhausting. 15 personnel from the Norwegian Red Cross Regional persons from the Red Cross, and 15 military Avalanche Rescue Team did an extensive work to personell was planned for search-lines, but more secure the area with explosives, to trigger potential personnel and frequent rollover was required. avalanches and remove tensions in the snowpack. Totally 150 persons worked in the search-area, at Due to steep and complicated terrain, this work different times, through the 3 day period of the took two full days (5 and 6 April), and involved the search. use of military helicopters, special forces, and approximately 750 kg of explosives. Several At the beginning it was focused on clearing the avalanches were triggered. When this work was area around the located snowmobile. Though it completed an interdisciplinary consensus declared was expected that this snowmobiler had gone the search-area as safe. searching for the others, his snowmobile was the only real finding. It was decided to first rule this Phase 2: Search and excavation possibility out. After probing and excavation this In the afternoon Saturday 6 April, phase 2 of the area without further results, the search turned operation was launched. Search-lines with probes westwards to the area where dogs had indicated. performed searches in the primary areas. Each While excavating this area, flags left at the day of area was probed twice before piston bullies accident became visible at exact the same place excavated the first 1-1,5m of the snowpack. as dogs had made new markings. When 2 m Simultaneously, search with rescue-dogs, RECCO, debris was removed, a RECCO-search at this spot and transceivers took place. Dogs marked some gave a very weak signal. Probing in the icy masses areas that were probed extensively, and some was nearly impossible, and gave inconclusive places down to 5 m depth.. The snowpack was results. When piston bullies carefully dug further hard and icy, and probing was difficult. Attrition to into the masses, a handle from one of the missing both men and equipment was high, and it was no snowmobiles became visible at approximately 6 m doubt that the operation most probably would take below the surface. Shoveling uncovered the whole time. As the weather was stable, and adequate snowmobile, and one of the missing snowmobilers personnel resources were available, the search was located beside this. When the snowmobile continued through the night 6/7 April. Aggregates was removed, the third snowmobile became and light-sources were rigged, and the whole visible, parallel to this. After careful shoveling, this valley illuminated. When piston bullies excavated was hoisted away, and uncovered the second the area indicated by the dogs, buried flags that snowmobiler underneath. These two victims were had been left at the exact same spot at the day of the missing brothers. Both men were excavated the accident were found. Those were left there during the afternoon the second day of the search. because the dogs showed interest at the same Due to incoming snowfall, search was on hold area. Later on it proved to be exactly the spot during the night 7/8 April. Snowfall and winds this where the two brothers were excavated at night made it necessary to , trigger a few minor approximately 6m depth. avalanches by Daisy Bell before the search could continue on 8 April. Thereafter the search-team By alternating probing and digging the debris was focused on the area close to the stone where the excavated bit by bit, with minimal risk of injury to helmet was found. Probing and excavation here the dead. As the avalanche area was a narrow uncovered the third snowmobiler. valley, it became a logistical challenge that all debris had to be transported 150-200m past the After all three was found and excavated, the avalanche to more open areas where it could be operation was completed, and all equipment were deposited. To keep necessary progress it was removed during the 8.april.

1156 snow under a thin ice/crust-layer. At the day of the None of the casualties were autopsied, but accident, and during the inspection the following asphyxia is considered as the most likely cause of day, loud booms were heard from collapsing snow- death. layers when people moved across the snowpack. Regarding the cause of the accident, remote As the triggering sone for all the multiple triggering is considered most likely. There was avalanches was at steep and exposed terrain, no some wind in the days before, but at the day of the pits were dug here, but multiple pits in adjacent accident weather was stable, with mild wind, no terrain confirmed that the weak layer in Tromdalen snow added, the temperature was stable, and no was the same weak layer seen over the entire reported natural avalanches around. region and described in the text above. Faceted

7 APPENDIX

Table: Avalanche incidents in Troms the winter of 2012/13

# Date Location Incident, resymé.

1 29.10.12 Jægervasstind A party of three skiers are caugth in a 100m wide and several Lyngen hundred meter long avalanche between Jægervasstinden and Trollvasstinden. One of the skiers suffers from minor injuries in one arm, a lot of equipment is broken and they are all mildly hypotherm when evacuated by the ambulance helicopter. One injured.

2 22.01.13 Tamokdalen, Large natural dry-slab avalanche crosses the fv87 regional high- way in Tamokdalen. No one is caugth in the avalanche but the road is closed in three places and thus isolating several people. No injuries.

3 22.01.13 Holmbuktura, One car trapped in a large natural dry-slab avalanche crosses the Lyngen fv293 regional high-way in Holmbuktura. This is the only access to the Jøvik village and all the people there are isolated for several days. No injuries.

4 23.01.13 Kantornes, Large natural dry-slab avalanche from Lavangstinden crosses the Balsfjord fv294 regional high-way in a more then 100 m wide path and goes into the fjord. No injuries.

5 25.01.13 Skardalen, Small avalanche observed from the village. Response with Birtavarre ambulance helicopter and avalanche rescue team leader. Natural triggered. No injuries.

6 29.01.13 Rørnestind, Very large natural triggered avalanche. Ski-track observed from the

1157 Lyngen village. Response from ambulance helicopter, police, avalanche rescue team leader and Red Cross. No injuries.

7 09.03.13 Eliasdalen, Avalanche with ski-tracks observed from the highway. Response Ramfjorden from ambulance helicopter who observed and confirmed old avalanche. No injuries.

8 11.03.13 Lassofjell, Avalanche triggered by two snowmobiles. One snowmobile partially Storgalten, buried. Self and companion resue. Response from ambulance Lyngen. helicopter with avalanche rescue team leader. When helicopter arrived the snowmobilers had fled the area. No injuries.

9 16.03.13 Nordnes, Kåfjord Avalanche crossing the E6-highway. This road, the only road from north to south in Troms was closed for one full day after the incident. No injuries.

10 17.03.13 Langfjellaksla Three backcountry skier/snowboarders triggered a 100x350m dry- Kattfjordeidet. slab avalanche. Two were caught, both partially buried. One survived with only bruises, the other died from trauma caused by Back-country collision with trees in the avalanche path. Accidental bystanders skiing area. started companion rescue only minutes after the avalanche. CPR was started on the unconscious but he was later pronounced dead.

11 24.03.13 Lunheim, One of two lift-based off-piste skiers trigger a 150x400m avalanche Tromsdalen. in the tree-line, close to the local ski-lift area. He is partly buried Popular off-piste and is found by companion rescuers using transceivers. CPR was area. started by companions on the scene and later followed up by air- ambulance-doctor and paramedic. Pronounced dead on the scene

12 25.03.13 Oldervik, Three skiers in a party of four are caugth in a 50x80m skier- Tromsø triggered avalanche. They were not buried and reported to the police that they did not need assistance. No injuries.

13 26.03.13 Tromdalen, Three snowmobilers were driving in the very narrow Tromdalen Senja when two of them were caught and completely buried by a large avalanche. The third tried to search for them but was caught and Remote back- also completely buried in a secondary avalanche. country. Rescuers who arrived found only one snowmobile and one helmet. The weather was bad, avalanche danger was considerable and the valley was a very dangerous terrain trap forcing the rescuers to evacuate and close the area for all traffic. It took one week for the weather to clear and then the area had to be controlled using military grade explosives before rescuers could enter again. Extraction then took three days, using heavy equipment and hundreds of rescuers. Three dead.

14 27.03.13 Goalsevarre, A party of ten french skiers trigger a medium sized dry-slab south face, avalanche. One is caught. He trigger his inflatable device back- Lyngen. pack and is not buried. No rescue response. No injuries.

15 29.03.13 Straumsbukt, Avalanche with ski tracks observed in popular ski-area above Kvaløya. Straumsbukta elementary school. Checked by ambulance

1158 helicopter crew and police. None caugth. No injuries.

16 29.03.13 Nordnes, Kåfjord Avalanche crossing the E6-highway. One car trapped but no injured. This road was closed for several day after the incident. No injuries.

17 30.03.13 Kattfjordeidet, Very large (900x900m) dry-slab avalanche crossing the fv 862 Tromsø. regional high.way on Kattfjordeidet. Two cars caught. One driver had to crawl out of the side window. The other car was flipped round and buried but the driver had left minutes earlier to ski the opposite side of the valley. Two small cabins were smashed in the avalanche which also cut the power lines to several hundred people. No injuries.

18 31.03.13 Russetind, Medium sized avalanche observerd from the village below. Nordkjosbotn. Checked with helicopter with avalanche rescue team leader. No injuries.

19 01.04.13 Reinen, A very large (700x300) natural dry-slab avalanche in popular Tromsdalen. recreation area above public elementary school in Tromsdalen. A Above large rescue operation with all available resources was launched elementary but by a chance of luck no one was caught. No injuries. school.

20 01.04.13 Tulleng, Small natural dry-slab avalanche struck a cottage but no people Kattfjord was caught. The guest had left the day before. No injuries.

21 16.04.13 Reinøya, east- A natural meduim sized wet-slab avalanche cuts the power-lines to side the people on Reinøya. No people caugth. No injuries.

22 17.04.13 Nordnes, Kåfjord Avalanche crossing the E6-highway again and closing it for one day. No injuries.

23 19.04.13 Finnvikdalen. Natural wet-slab avalanche with possible ski-tracks observed by a North facing. police-officer. Searched with ambulance helicopter crew with avalanche rescue team leader and police. None caugth. No injuries.

24 20.04.13 Trollvasstind, Two skiers triggered a 10x200m dry-slab avalanche in low visibility northface. 1000 condition. One was caugth but managed trigger his inflatable asl. device back-pack and is “lifted” out of the debris with “considerable” force. No injuries.

25 20.04.13 Stor-Galten. Party of several skiers triggered first a small, “harmless” slab in a NW face, couloir. They then traversed under this and triggered another Lyngen 50x200m dry-slab avalanche. Several was caught but nobody was buried or injured. No injuries.

26 21.04.13 Storhaugen, Female guest on a guided tour crosses the guides boundaries and Kåfjord goes too far out on a large overhanging cornice. The cornice breaks and she fells several hundred meters down the east-face of the mountain. When the air ambulance arrives she is dead.

27 21.04.13 Goalsevarre, Three skiers trigger a smal slab. No one caugth or injured.

1159 Lyngseidet Reported to the police. No injuries.

28 25.04.13 Store One rando-skier in a party of three misses one turn in the very Lakselvtind, steep top couloir of Store Lakselvtind. He hits the walls of the Lyngen couloir and is dead when he comes to a stop two hundred meters below. Not an avalanche but handled by the same rescue responders.

29 15.05.13 Tamokdalen, Several natyral wet-slab avalanches is triggered in popular back- Balsfjord country skiing areas in Tamokdalen. No one is caugth. No injuries.

30 17.05.13 StorGalten A party of six skiers descending from Storgalten triggers a medium Lyngen sized wet avalanche. The incident is observed from the village below. A large rescue operation is initiated before it is clear that no one is caught or injured. No injuries.

31 19.05.13 StorGalten Medium sized natural wet-slab. Does no harm. No injuries. Lyngen

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Map: Avalanche incidents in Troms the winter of 2012/13

Map of avalanche incidents the winter of 2012/13 in Troms. Refer to the table above for explanation. Red circles represents fatal accidents. Map from: kart.statkart.no

1161 TIMELINE: AVALANCHE INCIDENTS IN TROMS THE WINTER OF 2012/13

Avalanche incidents the winter of 2012/13 plotted in a meteogram/timeline. Note the clustering of events around the changes in weather. Graph Legend: Green-Bar = precipitation/day in mm, Blue-area = snow cover at 100m asl in cm, Blue-line = temperature in centigrades, Red-arrows = Wind direction, Green-Line = Wind Speed in m/s. Refer to the table above for explanation of each event. Blue circles are avalanche incidents, Red circles represents fatal accidents. Graph from: www.senorge.no

1162