Hurd Peak Fatality (Eastern Sierra) 14 June 2023

[crankplank]

https://www.facebook.com/10006916743...ibextid=qC1gEa

terrible. Im surprised to learn that the sierra snowpack hasnt completely transitioned to summer, wonder if it was a glide avalanche? Its an outlier year for sure either way.

[shitskier]

https://www.esavalanche.org/pro-obs/...nche-incident/

[crankplank]

That looks like recent snow. Thanks for linking to the avy center.

[shitskier]

That looks like recent snow. Thanks for linking to the avy center.

There had been intermittent storms the past few days. I would guess most of the precip came as rain at that elevation.

[Hacksaw]

https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntim...tempted-rescue

https://classic.avalanche.state.co.u...=850&accfm=rep

[ASmileyFace]

Crazy... that looks like something that would occur in april, not mid June. Another stark reminder of how untypical this season has been.

Vibes to the deceased, their loved ones and everyone involved.

[2Pole]

RIP

[ridge_skier]

Not sure if this was ever shared but they posted a final report at some point over the summer.

https://classic.avalanche.state.co.u...=850&accfm=inv

[Core Shot]

That’s a sad read.
Uncovering your partner with critical injuries. Retreating due to another wet slide. Then going back to uncover them again.

[North]

Tough one.

I got a cheap lesson about snow shedding from adjacent slopes 6 or 7 yrs ago skiing an inset north facing couloir. The left side of the couloir has a sheer east facing wall with a snow covered slope at the top. We focused on the north aspect of our line and neglected to consider this overhead hazard, and it shed while I was in the couloir. Luckily I was near the top and was able to dig in. A small amount of debris passed over me but it entrained enough snow to move a skier lower down.

I was in the Sierra the week prior to this accident and can attest to the weird and challenging conditions. We ultimately ended our trip early after getting shutout numerous times due to limited/non existent weather windows.

[powdork]

Around these parts (Tahoe) there are definitely still wet slide possibilities in mid june if there's snow. Down south 2,000' higher I would assume that would exist into July. Things don't firn up until mid August and beyond

[tmokes]

T


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