Backcountry Skiers in Glacier Trigger Avalanche
By Steve Casimiro on January 10th, 2013
Yet another group of backcountry skiers got caught in its own mess. Two skiers in West Glacier triggered a slide near Elk Mountain in the Middle Fork area of the national park, just west of Marias Pass. One of the pair was injured, but luckily his buddy saw the slide and was able to ski out of the way, then go dig out his friend who was partially buried. Then he called 911. Both men are Montana residents. Park officials didn’t say if the men had beacons or other backcountry gear, but that may not have mattered: the official Flathead Avalanche Advisory had a danger level of “considerable,” with human-triggered avalanches listed as likely. Via NBC Montana.
There’s a reason most burials occur under “Considerable” conditions. So tough to manage. Glad these guys are OK.