Skier Killed By Backcountry Avalanche In Wyoming
One skier was killed in an avalanche that occurred this past weekend in the Greys River Zone of the Wyoming backcountry, according to an observation published on the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center (BTAC) website.
The BTAC shared information about the incident via social media yesterday, noting that this was the "first avalanche fatality of the season" in the Greys River Zone.
On January 14th—the date of the avalanche—one member of the two-person party diverted from the intended course after taking a break to discuss route strategy. During this diversion, they triggered a two to three-foot thick and 50-foot wide soft slab and were left buried under approximately two feet of snow.
The buried skier's partner conducted a beacon search and excavated the buried skier within 15 minutes but found them pulseless. The avalanche observation reports that the buried skier "may have died of trauma."
Both skiers were removed from the backcountry via helicopter due to avalanche risk.
According to the BTAC, the avalanche risk was "High above 7,500 feet and Considerable below that elevation with a persistent slab problem and deep, persistent slab problem" on the day of the incident. The BTAC intends to publish a complete report soon.
Currently, avalanche conditions in the Greys River Zone are "very dangerous," according to the BTAC, with persistent slabs and deep persistent slabs being the primary avalanche problems.
"Our hearts go out to the friends and family of those involved," the BTAC wrote on social media.
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