First Person Account: Avalanche Burial near New Zealand Ski Resort
A backcountry skier who exited Treble Cone Ski Resort through a backcountry gate was caught in an avalanche and fully buried on September 24th. Fortunately, the skier was dug out by experienced members of his skiing group. Remember to keep your training up to date and always check your local avalanche report before heading into the backcountry.
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Our party of 5 skiers made our way south along the Towers Ridge from the Towers Gate. We traveled along the ridge, knocking cornice blocks off along the way, with no signs of cracking, whumphing or avalanches. We skied the top pitch with dry, low density snow. It was good skiing! We then decided to continue down the steeper lower pitch of the Commitment Chutes, south towards the north branch of the Motatapu River. With a change in aspect, elevation and terrain we retrospectively agreed that we should have investigated the snowpack by digging a pit before dropping in, with more uncertainty and commitment in this terrain. We all congregated just at the top of the rollover before the first skier dropped into the chute. The skier made a ski cut across the top, with no result, and continued on, making 2 turns before fractures broke across the entire width of the chute, breaking about 20m above the skier. We watched the skier for the duration of their ride, before the avalanche stopped. The skier was not visible. Two rescuers began a transceiver search from the last seen point, one activated their Inreach, and one tried to make a 111 call (no service) before descending. The transceiver's lowest reading was .9, the victim was probed, digging began and their airway was cleared at about 7 minutes. No loss of consciousness or injuries occurred for the victim. The victim was able to successfully clear an air pocket around their face by punching at the snow as the avalanche was slowing down. A rescue helicopter responded quickly thanks to the InReach SOS and transported the party back to the ski area. The weak layer was likely a persistent weak layer buried last week. The slab was soft- fist hard- and the area didn't appear wind loaded. Of particular note, is that 3 of the party members are avalanche professionals. We realize we made mistakes, and it's a valuable lesson in recognizing that there's times where anyone can let their guard down and get caught out no matter your skill level or experience.
