Fatal Skiing Accident Occurred At Tuckerman Ravine Over The Weekend
On Saturday, skiers were ascending and descending Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington in New Hampshire until the icy conditions turned the normally challenging terrain into a zone full of serious accidents.
The wet snowpack froze and turned into a firm surface, leading to over a dozen falls in the area, one being deadly.
Madison Saltsburg, 20, was attempting to ski the bowl with one other skier when she fell about 600 vertical feet down the ravine in the afternoon, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Saltsburg was a University of Vermont Junior as well as a member of Army ROTC.
Two other skiers also suffered serious injuries after falling and hitting rocks and ice.
Besides the fatal accident, there were other falls witnessed throughout the day which did not result in serious injuries.
At 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is the tallest peak in the Northeast and is notorious for its high winds and brutally cold temperatures. Those skiing Tuckerman Ravine are usually aware of the challenges the weather provides.
However, the drastic change in temperatures from warm to cold left the snowpack firm and icy, causing problems for those attempting to ski the bowl over the weekend.
The rescues weren't limited to skiers. The night before the fatal skiing accident, on Friday, a 23-year-old hiker from Kentucky was rescued from the mountain.
New Hampshire Fish and Game reported that the hiker had gotten off trail and into the Ammonoosuc Ravine. The hiker “fell and hit his head and face, lost one of his sneakers, and eventually became hypothermic."
Our thoughts go out to Madison Saltsburg and her family and friends at this time.
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