...............
On Jan 2nd a 28 year old male snomobiler was caught in a large slide and killed near Paulina Peak in an area known as the “roller coaster”. Paulina Peak is a popular snowmobile and bc ski area 1.5 hours southeast of Sisters, OR. The 3SBCI staff traveled down there and conducted a fracture line profile of the slide on Jan 4th. Below is our pit data and some observations of the slide. The buried surface hoar we found was very well preserved and will be persistent in that area. Solo 28 y/o snowmobiler caught in slide and was buried at base of slope in terrain trap and killed. He was located by witnesses in the proximity without the use of a transceiver. Other skiers in the area report triggering slides on the same day.
- PaulinaScene.jpg (33.48 KiB) Viewed 1337 times
- PaulinaFracture.jpg (26.85 KiB) Viewed 1337 times
- PaulinaAngle.jpg (20.59 KiB) Viewed 1337 times
Observers: Three Sisters Backcountry Staff
Location:
Newberry Crater, State/Prov: OR, Range: Cascades, Elevation: 7350
Name: Paulina “rollercoaster”
Date/Time: Wed Jan 02, 2010
Elevation Start: (ft) 7350
Elevation Deposit: (ft) 7040
Fracture Width: (ft) 435
Fracture Length: (ft) 400
Avalanche Length: (ft) 300
Primary Aspect: 0 deg (North)
Type: SS
Water Content Start: Dry
Water Content Deposit: Dry
Trigger Type: Artificial – Human
Trigger Code: Snowmobile
Size relative to Path: R4
Size destructive force: D2.5
Average Fracture Depth: (cm) 34
Max. Fracture Depth: (cm) 40
Level Of Bed Surface: Within old snow.
Weak Layer Type: Buried Surface hoar
Weak Layer Crystal Size: 7.0 mm
Weak Layer Hardness: F
Crystal Type Above: Rounded grains
Crystal Size Above: 1.0
Hardness above: 4F
Crystal Type Below: Mixed forms faceted
Crystal Size Below: 1.0
Hardness below: 4F
Snow Pack Typology: 0
Avg Start Angle: 34
Max Start Angle: 34
Min Start Angle: 34
Width of deposit: 435
Number of people caught: 1
Number of people totally buried: 1
Fatalities: 1
- PaulinaProfile.jpg (86.78 KiB) Viewed 1337 times