Avalanche fatalities (Montana Climbers)

[fez]

From todays Montana Avalanche Report:

AVALANCHE FATALITIES

I’m saddened to report that on Saturday two ice climbers were killed by an avalanche on the northwest face of Sphinx Mountain in the Madison Range. A small pocket of unstable snow released as they crossed the slope on the approach to the climb. It carried them over cliffs and partially buried them. A third team member and another climbing party made valiant rescue efforts, but both victims died of trauma. Yesterday, Karl Birkeland assisted on the body recovery and wrote a detailed accident report that’s posted on our web page (www.mtavalanche.com/accidents/index.shtml).


careful all you kids out getting some. it can happen any time there is snow on the ground.

[Trackhead]

That is some seriously terrible news. I can only hope it wasn't anyone I know from there.

On a side note, that route has been skied.

[baseWeldr]

missoula guys, mid 20s. just read about it on bozone chronicle

[MT]

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2004/11/01/news/01climbers%20killed.txt

[Summit]

:frown: Sad

[seldon]

RIP. Condolences to family and friends.

[Xover]

sounds like everything that could be done for them was done
rip

[climb2ski]

Very tragic. Let's all be careful out there. :(

[grrrr]

November 2 and we're up to 3 for the season? Does not bode well. Push your limits, but push them carefully.