Avalanche
A Park City man, David Macfarlane, 64, died in an avalanche near Lost Trail Ski Area in Montana on Tuesday, according to the Ravalli County Sheriff’s office. The incident occurred in southern Ravalli County, with a group of skiers from Utah witnessing the event.
Despite their efforts and a satellite device call for help, Macfarlane succumbed to his injuries before assistance arrived. Agencies responding included the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, Ravalli County Search and Rescue, and Two Bear Air from Flathead County.
The Missoula Avalanche Center shared a preliminary report regarding the incident:
“On Tuesday, March 12th, 2024, a group of five people were backcountry skiing northwest of Lost Trail Pass in the Bitterroot Mountains. One of the skiers was caught in a large avalanche on a north aspect at around 8,000 feet. Other members of the group were able to locate the victim and begin first aid. They were also able to notify emergency services using a satellite device. The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, Ravalli County Search and Rescue, and Two Bear Air from Flathead County responded to the incident. Two Bear Air, with the assistance of Ravalli County Search and Rescue, hoisted the victim from the scene. Unfortunately, the victim had died due to injuries sustained in the avalanche before the helicopter’s arrival. Forecasters from the West Central Montana Avalanche Center visited the accident site on Wednesday, March 13th, 2024. The avalanche was approximately 250 feet wide and 3 feet deep and failed on a buried persistent weak layer.”
Deep snow instabilities still exist in Montana and parts of the Northern United States that have experienced below-average snowfall this winter, leading to an unstable, dangerous snowpack in many regions. This incident comes only days after an avalanche forecaster was killed by an avalanche in Oregon, highlighting how volatile many parts of the mountainous U.S. are right now as a result of a low winter in terms of snowfall. Both incidents remind us of the inherent danger involved in backcountry skiing and the unpredictability of the mountains. As their families grieve the losses of their loved ones, the rest of the American backcountry community needs to remain on high alert when entering backcountry areas with dangerous snow conditions and always travel with experienced partners and the right knowledge, gear, and terrain evaluation tactics.
