VOLUME 26, NO. 3 • FEBRUARY 2008 Jason West walks along the fracture line of an avalanche incident in Silver Fork, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, that occurred November 14, 2006. Jason was completely buried in an avalanche he triggered but was quickly dug out by his partners in time to save his life. Here he returns to the scene the following day to investigate the accident. photo © Bruce Tremper www.brucetremper.com In This Issue Avalanche Data— The avalanche is classified SS-AS-R4-D3-G. regain the ridge and then walk east on the ridge. It appears this From the President. 2 Rough measurements on a topographic map indicate this avalanche deviated from the original plan of sticking to low-angle terrain. Mailbag . 2 was around 2000' wide. It ran 600 vertical feet. The fracture line Perhaps since they successfully skied the run and did not see any depth ranged from 14-36" and averaged around 28". The slope cracking, collapsing, or other avalanches, this influenced their From the Editor . 3 angle ranged from 35-40 degrees in steepness. The aspect ranged decision. Excitement about the new ski season could have also Metamorphism . 4 from northwest to northeast. It released at about 10,000' in elevation. played a role. At least one member of the party had reservations A second avalanche released sympathetic to the original. It was about some of the decisions but did not speak up. Later when the AAA News. 4 around 100' wide, 30" deep, and ran around 500' vertical distance. group discussed the accident, the other two had reservations as What’s New . 8 It was on a northwest-facing slope. Faceted snow near the ground well but there was not complete communication. This fits into the Media was the weak layer for both these avalanches. Depth of the debris “no-leader category,” where no one is in charge of making sure Avalanche Control of the Future Essay . 10 averaged 3-4', but areas up to 6' deep were measured. complete communication is occurring. Many accidents occur due to DVD Reviews. 11 Weather History— The Wasatch range received some snow communication problems and no one is immune to making similar Snow Science storms in September and October that were subject to weather mistakes. It should be noted that this was a textbook example of a Increase Your Odds of Survival . 12 conditions that promoted faceting of the crystals. This sugary perfect rescue which was accomplished only because the touring Avalanche Pros Debate Swimming . 13 type of snow was then covered up by a series of snow storms in party had the proper rescue gear and was trained in using it. Sink or Swim . 27 early November that were accompanied by a number of windy Characterizing Deep-Slab Phenomena . 14 —from UAC accident report by Brett Kobernik Deep-Slab Discussion . 15 days that produced a stiff wind slab on top of the faceted snow. Deep-Slab Instability . 16 Avalanching from this snow structure was observed during the weekend previous to this accident. The day of the accident, many Education Northwest Snow & Avalanche Seminar '07 . 18 professional snow workers as well as recreational users produced ASAP Programs . 19 avalanches in this same snow structure. V-Shaped Conveyor Belt Shoveling . 20 Comments— All of the skiers involved had some formal Snow-Density Nomogram . 22 avalanche training, but two of them had more training than the El Cheapo Snow-Density Kit. 22 Systematic Approach to Rescue . 23 buried victim. They chose the West Bowl of Silver Fork because of its low-angle options which would be appropriate for the conditions Crown Profiles that day. They performed some snow-stability tests on the way up Sylvan Pass . 24 Silverton Backcountry Snow Obs. 26 from Alta. They noted some weakness within the new snow. They Whistler Small Avalanche. 26 were also aware of faceted snow near the ground on northerly Snowkiters . 27 facing slopes. They did not experience any cracking or collapsing and successfully skied one run. This is when things started to go wrong. They decided to walk up a northerly facing slope to She remembered the “old guys” talking about the winters when The Avalanche Review they did control work 20 or 30 P.O. Box 2831 days in a row. Avalanche control Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 work was really a treat now, all the more so because they got to do it so rarely. —James Sameth Avalanche Forecasting in the Year 2017, p10 u PAGE 2 THE AVALANCHE REVIEW VOL. 26, NO. 3, FEBRUARY 2008 THE from the president REVIEW FEBRUARY 2008 • VOL. 26 • NUMBER 3 Change The Avalanche Review is published each fall through spring by the American Avalanche Association, Inc., a non-profit corpora- tion. The Avalanche Review welcomes the submission of articles, In this day and age, life is truly all about change. And photographs and illustrations. in the avalanche profession, change has been fast and furious. Technology accelerates just about everything we Please send submissions to: Editorial Assistant: Lynne Wolfe –– Editor Sue Miller do or see. From backcountry tools to data collection and PO Box 1135 transfer to communications, our field is very different If you fear change, Driggs, Idaho 83422 tel: (208) 709-4073 than even a few years ago. Attitudes and expectations [email protected] have changed. The public looks for quicker ski area and LEAVE IT HERE road openings, easier access to bigger steeper lines and Advertising: Production: more radical remote terrain, even faster response when Jazz Russell Fall Line Design 370 N 110 E 76 N Main, Suite 208 an accident does happen. Driggs, ID 83422 Driggs, ID 83422 What has not changed is Mother Nature…wait a minute; tel/fax: (208) 354-6500 tel: (208) 354-2524 I forgot global warming! The basics of why avalanches fax: (208) 354-6500 [email protected] [email protected] happen have not changed, but how we look at conditions and the conditions we are seeing have perhaps changed. Business and Subscription Office: Our terrain is even becoming altered by large wildfires Mark Mueller –– AAA Executive Director P.O.Box 2831 and extensive beetle kill. Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 One of the American Avalanche Association's goals is to tel: (970) 946-0822 / fax: (970) 731-2486 help avalanche workers share information and observations [email protected] in a changing world and workplace. Recognizing change, managing change, and being proactive about coming changes is not only key for survival these days but helps to create a thriving community. Something I truly enjoy being a part of. The Avalanche Review has established itself as one of on board in order to facilitate the Web site and provide the key vehicles for sharing information. ISSW and the members with more internet tools. Executive Director ..........................Mark Mueller biannual AAA professional development seminar have And you know all those increased expectations I AAA Officers *President ......................................Janet Kellam been joined by regional seminars in the Pacific Northwest, mentioned earlier? Well I think we are doing an awfully *Vice President ..............................Doug Richmond Colorado, and other areas. We are working to provide good job meeting those expectations and better. When I *Secretary ......................................Andy Gleason more and easier opportunities for professional avalanche *Treasurer ......................................Bill Glude look at the roster of AAA membership I see a lot of hard- workers to network and share information. Avalanche Notes Committee Chairs working, ingenious, and fun-loving men and women. The Awards .........................................Halsted Morris and Electronic Patrol Shack, through avalanche.org, have role of AAA is to help keep you going. Data ............................................Dan Judd seen use drop off dramatically. We’d like to encourage Education ....................................Sarah Carpenter, Brad Sawtell participation and revive both of these elements in one Ethics ..........................................Lel Tone Have a safe and snowy winter, Membership .................................Stuart Thompson way or another. Let us know what you think. Any new —Janet Kellum Research .....................................H.P. Marshall ideas on how to do this? What would you like to see? The Ketchum, Idaho Search & Rescue .........................Dale Atkins Governing Board is examining how to have an IT person R Ski Area .......................................Bill Williamson December 29, 2007 Standards Awareness ..................Craig Sterbenz *Publications ................................Blase Reardon Publications Committee Editor ...........................................Lynne Wolfe submissions Editor Emeritus ............................Steve Conger Editor Emeritus ............................Sue Ferguson • Seen any good avalanches Editor Emeritus ............................Blase Reardon Editor Emeritus ............................Bruce Tremper lately? Web Asst ......................................Jay Gress, Karl Birkeland, • Got some gossip for the other Janet Kellam, Gary Murphy snow nerds? Section Representatives Alaska…............................. ........Carl Skustad • Developing new tools or ideas? Eastern Section ...........................Kyle Tyler • Learn something from an European Section .........................Peter Höller Intermountain North ....................Fay Johnson accident investigation? Intermountain South ....................Jamie Yount • Send photos of a crown, of Northwest ....................................Evan Woods avalanche