Avalanche
A snow biker was killed in an avalanche northwest of Cascade, Idaho, on Sunday, according to a preliminary report from the Payette Avalanche Center (PAC). The slide had a 2-4 foot crown and slid 300 feet.
Two snow bikers triggered the avalanche just south of PAC’s forecast area. One rider was caught in the slide, carried into a terrain trap, and fully buried in the debris.
The buried rider was located using an avalanche transceiver and excavated from the debris. Despite these efforts, the individual did not survive.
“Pulled up to a group already resuscitating a rider, heavy wind loaded face, looked like guys dropped in then looped back and tried to ride back up when the slab broke, 1 rider ahead managed to float on the bike down, 1 got knocked down went in head first and got buried upside down, I have seen this spot slide multiple times but nothing this extreme. After 1 hr of cpr and ent showing up the rider that got buried did not make it.
This happened around 2pm, besides this incident saw one spot mid mountain that showed cracking but it did not slide, it is on average 1-2ft deep on a wet layer from the inversion, lakes are not frozen either.”
PAC officials described the avalanche as “relatively small.” The center’s forecasters plan to investigate the site on Monday.
- Related: SnowBrains Podcast Ep. 73 | Dr. Ethan Greene – Director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center
The forecast for the time was 3/5, which is considerable.
“Over a foot of new snow is forecasted in the mountains by this evening. Breezy south winds and heavy snowfall will create dangerous avalanche conditions by this afternoon. Storm slabs will increase in size and sensitivity throughout the day. Conditions will be most dangerous above 7000′ near and just below ridgelines.”
– PAC forecast for yesterday
We will update this post with additional information as it becomes available.
The fatality is the first avalanche-related death of the winter 2024-25 season in North America.
