Avalanche
A man died Thursday afternoon after an avalanche near Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington, NH the US Forest Service said. The US Forest Service officials said the slide happened between the ravines in an area known as Raymond Cataract.
Officials said the 75-foot avalanche was human-triggered and that the unidentified man was trapped for nearly an hour before crews were able to locate and dig him out. Rescuers performed CPR as they transported him down the mountain. A medical helicopter was on site, but first responders pronounced the man dead at 4 pm.
The skier was equipped with a beacon, and rangers found him under five feet of the snow and dug him out. Rangers believe he was skiing alone as they found only one trail.
“(They) noticed one set of ski tracks going into the avalanche area and no tracks going out,” said Evan Burks, public and legislative affairs officer for the Forest Service. “(They) began looking for a beacon and found one buried skier about a meter and a half under the snow.”
The White Mountain Avalanche Center posted the avalanche danger for Thursday as being “moderate” and experts say the snow can be unpredictable this time of year.
“The winds pack it down and create wind slab, which can crack and break away, and lots of things can happen,” said Mike Cherim of Redline Guiding in Intervale. “It’s winter on Mount Washington. That’s normal. It’s spring everywhere else. People need to wait for spring on Mount Washington to really get into the skiing and be careful.”
There have been 25 avalanche fatalities in the United States this season, and 8 in Canada.
Funny a guy who hasn’t back country skied in over a year is giving a comment. Last time he spring skied on Washington he didn’t bring avi gear. Check your sources!