Accident: Francis Peak 4/4/2010

Observer Name:

Davis County SAR

Observation Date:

04/04/2010

Occurrence Date:

04/04/2010

Occurrence Time:

Afternoon

Region:

Francis Peak
Francis Peak Ridgeline
Salt Lake

Location

41° 3' 1.5264" N, 111° 50' 38.6952" W

Avalanche Characteristics

Elevation:

9100'

Aspect:

East

Trigger:

Snowmobiler

Trigger: additional info:

Unintentionally Triggered

Avalanche Type:

Cornice Fall

Depth (avg):

Width:

50'

Vertical:

1000'

People Involved

Caught:

Carried:

Fully Buried:

Killed:

Accident & Rescue Info

Accident & Rescue Summary:

One snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche that he triggered on Sunday, April 4th. He was traveling north along a ridge when a cornice he was on cracked and broke off. This caused an avalanche to release below the cornice. He was carried over a cliff band. He was buried approximately 1000 feet below the ridge under 2 to 3 feet of debris. He was located by his partner with a beacon. Davis County Search and Rescue responded and the victim was extricated via helicopter.

Recent snow coupled with strong winds on Saturday caused snow to be drifted into deep drifts on the lee sides of ridges. The Farmington Canyon/Francis Peak ridgeline is notoriously windy and large fresh cornices had formed.

There will be more information posted on this later today (Tuesday April 6)

Weather & Avalanche History:

The cornice falling and triggering a slab below then cascaded off the cliffs and entrained more snow. The slab was not all that deep and broke above the dirt layer from March 31st. It is likely the slab would not have failed without the large impact of the cornice, sled and rider. Weather the following day prevented the UAC staff from visiting the site. A few inches of snow fell on Saturday the 3rd coupled with strong southwest wind. The large sensitive cornice that broke most likely grew quite a bit during Saturday.

General Comments

The photo shows the broken cornice, the slab that released below, the cliff band and the bed surface below where the snow was entrained in the avalanche. The upside down sled is visible in the left below the cliff. You can also see the dirt layer in the bed surfaces.

General Comments 2

The vic was approx. 600 to 800 ft away
from the snowmobile. Total estimated distance traveled from the cornice was
about 1200 ft. He was buried horizontally about 2.5 - 3 ft deep with his
head downhill.

General Comments 3

The victim went over the 75' high cliffband as shown in the photo.

General Comments 4

Thanks to the Davis County SAR team and AirMed for their good work on the recovery.

Javascript is required to view this map.