[Ferniefreeheels]

Just came across this
[/url]http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local...arders%20Killed[url]

[Jenny]

Try this link. Two dead snowboarders near Wallace Idaho

[John Latta]

Here is a more recent local newspaper story. http://www.spokesmanreview.com/idaho/topstory.asp?ID=49004

The conditions were changing on Sunday when the accident happened. The snowpack was undergoing considerable warming. The community regrets this loss. My condolences for these young men's families and friends as well as the surviving member.

[Edgyinoregon]

This is so sad and getting too common during the last week or so. After reading the articles I was really struck by a couple of points that backcountry skiers and board riders really need to think about and practice.
There were three in the group involved, and they all were wearing beacon transceivers. Two of the three were burried by the slide. Were they proficient in the use of the devices? Did they all carry shovels and know how to find and get to the victims?
I'm not heaping blame on the survivor, just pointing to the need to carry the proper rescue equipment and train in it's use. Your partners are your best chance to come out alive, you have every right to expect them to know what to do in extreme situations, practice makes perfect. Also, a beacon is not very effective if you don't carry a shovel capable of moving packed snow fast! Everyone in the group needs one.
Be careful out there!
_________________
Those voices in your head are not real, but they have some really great ideas!

[AltaPowderDaze]

[snowspider]

[quote="AltaPowderDaze"]

[Ava Blanche]

Rain and warming temperatures do several things to destabilize the snowpack:

1. the rain (which has density of 1 gm/cc, as compared to a typical snow density of 0.3 or 0.4 gm/cc) adds considerable additional mass to the snowpack; that is, the overall density increases.

2. water can "lubricate" potential sliding layers. For example, if even a small crust is present, water will preferentially run down that, and reduce the coefficient of friction. Even worse is when the snow is resting on rock slabs, and the water melts out the base of the snowpack; this is a major problem in spring and summer.

3. water pore water pressure will actually "lift" up the snowpack, making it more likely to slide.

4. as snow temperatures rise to 0°C, it loses a lot of strength; just like an iron bar that is heated red hot loses its strength and can then be easily molded by a blacksmith.

Have I missed anything there snowspider?
_________________
There are no easy solutions, only intelligent choices

[Snowman]

[AltaPowderDaze]

[John Latta]

Since this discussion is going in a positive direction I would like to clarify something about the conditions. At the time of the accident the local ambient air temperature was probably in the upper 20's (degrees F), it was snowing lightly, overcast with a low ceiling, and at times becoming foggy. The temperatures had been in the in the teens and lower for the previous several days.

The cold temps had been accompanied by clear weather. 4 days prior to the accident approximately 12 inches of dry snow had fallen accompanied by strong SW winds. (The accident is reported to have occurred on an east to northeast aspect.) Including the 12 inches there was approximately 18 inches of settled but trending toward faceted snow above a December crust. Some buried surface hoar was likely present on protected aspects above the crust and at the base of the new 12 inches. Wind deposits were reported and expected on leeward N and NE slopes.

The crown of the avalanche was reported to be 150 yards long which suggests a wind deposited slab released. I was skiing approximately 1.5 mi to the east of the location at the time, in another drainage. Our party was aware that a soft slab was forming in the top 18 inches due to the warming trend.

[Gary Brill]

And from the loading and from the warming, stress was being redistributed in the snowpack, perhaps causing some super weakzones to fail.