Backcountry
Avalanche
According to Alaska Native News, Alaska State Troopers in Haines were notified of an avalanche that partially buried Utah resident and X-Games gold medalist Bode Merrill around 10am on Thursday, April 14th 2016. When the avalanche occurred Bode was snowboarding with a local guiding company. He stepped out of the helicopter and onto a cornice. The cornice broke away before Bode could grab his gear. When the cornice broke away, Bode went down the mountain 600 feet along with the avalanche.
Thankfully, Bode wasn’t buried in the initial avalanche, but another slab of snow broke loose and ended up burying him under 3 feet of snow. Shortly after he was completely buried, Merrill was located and uncovered. After digging him out, Merrill was transported to the Haines clinic then evacuated to the hospital in Juneau. Bode’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Alaska has received a ton of snow this winter, which makes the area especially prone to avalanches, so be careful out there and always be prepared.
The video that won Bode Merrill X-Games Gold:
I heard they got him in 5 minutes and he is actually not injured!