i Avalanche Accidents in Canada Volume 4: 1984-1996 Bruce Jamieson Torsten Geldsetzer Canadian Avalanche Association Table of Contents ii Avalanche Accidents in Canada 1984-1996 © 1996 Canadian Avalanche Association Box 2759, Revelstoke, BC, V0E 2S0, Canada All rights reserved Edited by: Julie Lockhart, WindWord Consulting Illustrations by: Diny Harrison, Banff Cover design by: Terry Reimer, Perceptions Art & Design Main cover photo by: Pat Morrow Inset cover photos by: Terry Willis, Brad White and CAA file photo Printed in Canada by: PrintWest Calgary Ltd. Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Jamieson, James Bruce. Avalanche accidents in Canada, volume 4 Previous vols. published by: National Research Council. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-9699758-4-8 1. Avalanches—Canada—Accidents. I. Geldsetzer, Torsten, 1964- II. Canadian Avalanche Association. III. National Research Council Canada. IV. Title. QC929.A8J35 1996 363.3’492 C96-910668-8 Table of Contents iii Foreword The examination of avalanche accidents towards common goals, including the collec- contributes to safety education by drawing at- tion and sharing of data on significant ava- tention, in a dramatic way, to the snow condi- lanche events. tions, the terrain, and the human actions that The four volumes of Avalanche Accidents have caused injury, death and property dam- in Canada show the advancement of expertise age. With this objective, the National Research over the years. By scanning the four publica- Council of Canada, as the leading agency for tions, one notices that the scenarios described avalanche research and information in Canada in Volume 4 reflect better technical skills of all until 1991, compiled and published three vol- those involved than was the case 30 years ago. umes on avalanche accidents in Canada in A remarkable feature of Volume 4 is the 1979, 1980 and 1987. The Canadian Avalanche thin section concerning industrial and transpor- Association, as part of its mandate, now con- tation accidents; this topic filled one third of tinues to promote avalanche safety and educa- the pages of Volumes 1 and 2 (accidents be- tion by publishing this fourth volume. tween 1943 and 1978). This decrease of cov- The authors, Bruce Jamieson and Torsten erage is evidence of the growing awareness of Geldsetzer, have competently assembled the avalanche hazards and the implementation of information and presented it in an unbiased, safety measures in industry. Similarly, the an- technical and instructive form. The National nual number of accidents in recreational ac- Search and Rescue Secretariat, recognizing the tivities has not increased substantially since importance of prevention of snow avalanche 1978 despite the strong growth of skiing and accidents, has provided the primary funding snowmobiling in the backcountry. This is an- for this publication. Even with the dedication other proof of the success of education pro- of the authors and the financial support, this grams. book could not have been written without the Although complete elimination of ava- participation of the individuals, companies and lanche accidents may never be possible because government agencies who shared their knowl- a mountain snowpack is highly variable and edge. Their cooperation reflects the spirit of avalanches often act in unpredictable ways, fellowship among avalanche technicians, ski learning about the conditions that usually cause and mountain guides, scientists and managers avalanches and being aware of avalanche haz- of avalanche safety programs in Canada, of ards will continue to reduce the risks. This book which we can be proud. It is expected that this is an excellent source of this type of instruc- publication will further inspire them to work tive information. Peter Schaerer Table of Contents iv Avalanche Accidents in Canada 1984-1996 Acknowledgements The Canadian Avalanche Association is grateful to Canada’s National Search and Rescue Secretariat’s New Initiatives Fund for assisting in making the publication of this book possible, to Niko Weis for writing the proposal, to Alan Dennis for managing the project, to Diny Harrison for the drawings, to Peter Schaerer, Paul Anhorn, Chris Whalley and Torsten Geldsetzer for collecting the accident reports and summarizing them for the Avalanche News, to Mary Clayton, Laura Howatt and Lynn Freeland for compiling the data on non-fatal accidents, to Tony Daffern and Karl Klassen for advice on publishing, to Julie Lockhart for editing, to Jack Bennetto, Jon Bezzola, Alan Dennis, Clair Israelson, Peter Schaerer and Niko Weis for reviewing the manu- script, to Robyn Douglas and Gisela Geldsetzer for their support and patience, to Terry Reimer for the cover design and to Pat Morrow, Brad White and Terry Willis for the cover photos. Also, this book would not be possible without the accident investigations, rescue reports and weather data submitted by: Dave Aikens, Fernie Snow Valley Pro Patrol, George Field, Kananaskis Country, Alberta Fernie, BC Wayne Flann, Whistler, BC Scott Aitken, BC Ministry of Transportation Scott Flavelle, Squamish, BC and Highways, Pemberton, BC Lloyd Freese, Kluane National Park Bruce Allen, BC Ministry of Transportation Rod Gibbons, RK Helicopter Skiing and Highways, Revelstoke, BC Kevin Giles, Nelson, BC Greg Allen, Fernie, BC Bill Golley, BC Ministry of Transportation Tim Auger, Banff National Park and Highways, Hope, BC Jim Bay, Revelstoke, BC Paul Heikkila, BC Ministry of Transportation Tom Bell, BC Provincial Parks and Highways, Nelson, BC Jack Bennetto, BC Ministry of Highways, Phil Hein, Golden, BC Snow Avalanche Programs Hemlock Valley Ski Area Scott Berry, Calgary, Alberta Anton Horvath, Whistler Mountain René Boiselle, Ste. Foy, Quebec Clair Israelson, Parks Canada Gordon Burns, Cranbrook, BC Gerry Israelson, Jasper National Park Canadian Avalanche Association InfoEx Rod Jaeger, Lac La Biche, Alberta Subscribers Bruce Kay, Blackcomb Ski Patrol Canadian Mountain Holidays Brian Keefer, Field, BC John Clarke, Vancouver, BC Kootenay Helicopter Skiing Ross Cloutier, Kamloops, BC Marc Lavallée, Ministry of Public Safety, Crescent Spur Helicopter Skiing Quebec Brian Cusack, Westcastle Ski Patrol Marc Ledwidge, Banff National Park Eric Dafoe, Glacier National Park Dave Liverman, Geological Survey, St. Dale Davis, BC Coroners Service, John’s, Newfoundland Revelstoke, BC Hector MacKenzie, Whitehorse, Yukon Cristoph Dietzfelbinger, Smithers, BC Bill Mark, Blackcomb Ski Patrol Environment Canada, Climate Services Marmot Basin Ski Area George Evanoff, Prince George, BC Bud Mercer, RCMP, Chilliwack Alan Evenchick, BC Ministry of Transporta- Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing tion and Highways, Terrace, BC Nakiska Ski Patrol Table of Contents v Rod Pendlebury, Fernie, BC Chris Stethem, Chris Stethem and Associates Gord Peyto, Glacier National Park Tracey Telford, Salmo, BC Provincial Emergency Program, BC (PEP) Roger Tierney, BC Parks, East Kootenay R.K. Helicopter Skiing District Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) John Tweedy, BC Ministry of Transportation Peter Schaerer, North Vancouver, BC and Highways, Kootenay Pass Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing Art Twomey, Kimberly, BC Mark Shubin, Crawford Bay, BC Tom Van Alstine, Nelson Kirstie Simpson, Whitehorse, Yukon Andy Vollmerhaus, Calgary, Alberta Alf Skrastins, University of Calgary Terry Willis, Yoho National Park Rick Staley, Kluane National Park George Zilahi, North Shore Search and Larry Stanier, Kananaskis Country Rescue, Vancouver, BC Table of Contents vii Table of Contents Foreword ...................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ...................................................................... iv Chapter 1 - Introduction .............................................................. 1 Factors Contributing to Avalanche Accidents ..................................................................... 2 Trip Preparation ................................................................................................................... 2 Human Factors ..................................................................................................................... 2 Terrain and Route Selection ................................................................................................ 3 Safety Measures ................................................................................................................... 3 Snowpack............................................................................................................................. 3 Weather ................................................................................................................................ 3 Search and Rescue ...............................................................................................................3 List of Fatal Accidents .........................................................................................................4 Chapter 2 - Trends and Patterns in Avalanche Accidents ......... 7 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 7 Accident Trends ................................................................................................................... 7 Recreational Accidents ........................................................................................................ 8 Residential, Industrial and Transportation Accidents .......................................................