Revelstoke SAR was called to assist at an avalanche on Frisby ridge in
the Monashees N. of Revelstoke on Nov. 17th, 2009-11-18
Details are still a bit sketchy, but here is what we know.
The slide occurred on a wind loaded, N. facing slope at 1800 M. 4 sledders were “high marking”. At around 3:30 pm when
they triggered what they said were 3 distinct avalanches. Perhaps the first slide stepped down
and released something from earlier in the year,..?
All 4 were caught and carried, with 2 partial burials, (up to their
waist) and two complete burials.
Of the 2 complete burials, both were located by beacons, one pinned
between his sled and a tree stump, sustaining serious bruising to his lower leg. The other was recovered blue, unconscious,
and not breathing. His team mates
continued to dig him out, clearing snow from his face and mouth and he spontaneously
began to breathe.
The group contacted BCAS by sat phone, but quickly lost their battery
power. Revelstoke SAR received the
call from the RCMP and initiated a team of 4 on sleds to find and assist,
having been given GPS co-ordinates from the party.
Somehow our team crossed paths with them in the dark without finding
them, and the distressed party made their way back to the Frisby parking lot around
9:pm,..all 4 of them on 1 sled!!
Revelstoke SAR attempted to get to the site today, Nov 18th to
assist in recovering the 3 buried sleds, as well as take pictures of the site
and perhaps do a fracture line profile.
Unfortunately the weather did not permit this. All members of the distressed party were well equipped with
shovels, probes, emergency gear. A
lucky outcome for this party
Buck Corrigan, ACMG