2 Skiers Dead After Triggering Avalanche In Jackson Hole Sidecountry

Two skiers died yesterday after being swept over a cliff in an avalanche at the top of the Rock Springs backcountry area, accessible from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. JHMR photo.

According to the Jackson Hole News & Guide, an avalanche near the southern boundary of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort killed two skiers – one 36 year old woman from Arizona, and one 46 year old man from Australia – while a third was able to grab onto a tree before being swept off a cliff on Ralph's Slide, a gnarly cliff face between the Zero G and M&M couloirs leading into the Rock Springs backcountry area. None of the three were wearing avalanche transceivers or appears to have had any familiarity with the terrain or backcountry travel skills.

The avalanche, which broke on a south/southeast-facing convex roll steeper than 40º that had been loaded by wind and new snow, had a crown between two and four feet deep, and broke two hundred feet across. Staff from Teton County Search & Rescue and Jackson Hole Backcountry Guides responded extremely rapidly to the scene, using probes to locate both victims in under an hour. Both were found dead, having succumbed to trauma during the course of the avalanche. 

While the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center had forecasted avalanche conditions as Moderate for the weekend, "abundant snowfall and strong winds formed wind slabs on all aspects and elevations," and a large degree of spacial variability, caused by a dry spell in early January, exists in the type of snow this latest round of snow layered upon.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the deceased. We implore all our readers to please practice wise decision-making in their backcountry travel this winter!

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stash member Ryan Dunfee

Former Managing Editor at Teton Gravity Research, current Senior Contributor, current professional hippy at the Sierra Club, and avid weekend recreationalist.