International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Red Pine Chutes Avalanche Accident – Case Study

• • Title: Red Pine Chutes Avalanche Accident – Case Study

    Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2014 Proceedings, Banff, Canada

    Authors:

    • Jake Hutchinson  [ American Avalanche Institute, Victor, ID, USA ]  [ Lone Tree Avalanche, Park City, UT, USA ]
    • Jeff Lonn  [ Canyons Ski Patrol, Park City, UT, USA ]

    Date: 2014-09-29

    Abstract: On December 23, 2007, an in-bounds avalanche occurred in open terrain in Red Pine Chute at Canyons Ski Resort, in Park City, Utah. The avalanche was classified as HS-ASu-D2.5- R2-o and caught four people, resulting in one fatality from trauma and one full burial with subsequent rescue by ski patrol. Red Pine Chute is a 38°, 40-foot-wide, NNE-facing slide path that descends from 9600’ elevation along the Wasatch crest. Late October 2007 brought a storm followed by a month of dry weather, forming faceted snow that was then buried in mid-December by 80” of snow with 5.5” SWE. Following very thorough control work, the chute was opened for the season the day prior to the accident and saw moderate ski traffic, including at least four work runs by Patrollers. The victim’s party triggered the slide, with the crown located lower on the slope than any slides recorded during the previous 10 years of control work. Rescue efforts resulted in the successful location and resuscitation of an 11-year-old victim following a burial of forty minutes. The family of the deceased subsequently sued the Canyons for negligence and the 2013 trial resulted in a unanimous jury verdict in favor of the resort. The litigation process was instructive and the accident prompted procedural changes at Canyons, including improvements to internal snow safety manuals, improved warnings to skiers, and better overall awareness of the inherent risk of inbounds avalanches. We will share improvements made to documentation, policy and procedure in hopes of industry advances.

    Language of Article: English

    Presenters:

    Keywords:

    Page Number(s): 419-426

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