UNITED STATES - Amazon Web Servicesaac-publications.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/anam/1985/...(Source:...
Transcript of UNITED STATES - Amazon Web Servicesaac-publications.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/anam/1985/...(Source:...
UNITED STATES
AVALANCHE, WEATHERAlaska, Chugach State ParkO n January 29, 1983, Mike M iller (29), Alden Johnson (31), and Neil O ’Donnell (29) of Anchorage, Alaska, were attem pting a climb of South Suicide Peak when a snow storm and 20 to 40 knot winds turned them back about 1300 hours. They descended the west ridge to a 400 meter couloir on the north side of the ridge. They decided to descend from here to the valley floor and their base camp.
Approximately 200 meters down the couloir, they triggered a 15 centim eter thick by 15 meters wide wind slab which carried them to the valley floor.
M iller walked out for help, while Johnson and O ’Donnell stopped after 3.2 kilometers due to a severe leg injury to O ’Donnell (fractured tibia). M iller called for help from a private residence. A helicopter evacuation was completed by 1830 hours. (Source: Dan H ourihan, Ranger, Chugach State Park)AnalysisO ther than the information provided in the report above, the only other detail of interest is that it had been snowing for the past 14 hours. (Source: J . W illiamson)