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Mt Baker Snowshoer Accident
Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center
USDA Forest Service
12 December 2003
Date: Avalanche occurred on the morning of 12/12/2003 (~ 1039-1100 AM PST),
recoveries on the morning of 12/13/2003.
Location: Near Artist’s Point switchback near the Mt Baker ski area
Who: 3 completely buried, 2 recovered alive (after ~24 hour burial), 1 fatality
State: WA
Activity: snowshoe
Preliminary Report:
The following information was obtained from Mt Baker ski area personnel. A party
of 3 snowshoers (1 man, 2 women) departed for Artist's Point on Friday morning,
12
December 2003. Near the last switch back on the Artist Point Access Road at
about 4900 feet, they were all buried by a natural or triggered soft slab
avalanche. The slide
released from a 30-35 degree, north aspect slope, with the fracture estimated at
18-24 inches. By the next (Saturday) morning the man was able make a hole in the
snow
with his hand and began yelling for help. A passing party of skiers heard him,
dug him out, and returned him to the ski area. A rescue party returned to the
site and probe persons found the first woman, who had perished. A probe person
then accidentally stepped into the air pocket of the second woman who was
miraculously alive. The man and the woman each survived about 24 hours or more
of burial.
Other Ancillary Information:
It is conjectured that the snow topography prior to the event may have given the
survivors their second chance. In some instances, the wind swirling around this
section of
highway has been known to create a wind loaded lip and overhang, which can
result in a 4 to 5 ft wall/cornice. It is possible that as the avalanche carried
the victims toward
the wall and overhang that it swept the survivors into a position in which they
were under the overhang or a collapsed portion of it and therefore had access to
a hole or air
pocket beneath the overhang. It is evident that the male had enough mobility to
slowly dig his way toward the surface and apparently, the second person
recovered alive had
enough mobility to get into her backpack and eat some candy or bars, as
wrappings were found near her when she was uncovered. This extra food may have
contributed to her live recovery as she was found hypothermic with a body temperature of 88 degrees.
Report compiled by Garth Ferber and Mark Moore
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