Lub Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 If you're headed to Montana or Wyoming... From http://mtavalanche.com/current/: AVALANCHE FATALITY IN WYOMING An avalanche near Cody, Wyoming, claimed the life of an experienced ice climber on Friday. He was climbing the "Main Vein", a south-facing route, when the bowl above the climb avalanched. The debris funneled down the gut of the climb like a freight train. His partner and rope held him, but not before being fatally traumatized. This area historically has minimal avalanche danger because of the lack of snow. Not this year. Lots of fresh snow and high winds have created unstable conditions. And these atypical avalanche conditions are not just in Cody, they're all over the west. Quote
Cobra_Commander Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Avalanche danger has been off the charts in the Jackson area. Big slides on stuff with a bunch of ski tracks on it already. Bad snowpack out there. Quote
marcus Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Just spoke with John and heard from Team Harro...they are all back in Boze. Quote
John Frieh Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Check though I did whip off a new route in Hyalite today I personally would avoid Main Vein, High on Boulder/Moonrise/etc, Triptych Pillars area and anything else that is gully feed but lots of climbs in cody are/will be safe. The wind is nuking right now so I think Bryan and I are headed to the Clarks Fork tomorrow but should be in Cody by Tuesday. Climb safe and have fun! Quote
JoJo Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 A little more on Team PDXs recent days in Hyalite: http://montanaice.com/node/901 Quote
Lowlander Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 This is terrible news, he was a friend. Quote
TBay Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Keith Spencer, 45, Laramie Wyoming read about it here Quote
tomtom Posted January 9, 2009 Posted January 9, 2009 (edited) More details here and here . Edited January 9, 2009 by tomtom Quote
max Posted January 9, 2009 Posted January 9, 2009 The slide, which left a crown face a quarter-mile wide and five to 10 feet high, funneled into this narrow drainage and over the ice. whoh. Quote
rob Posted January 9, 2009 Posted January 9, 2009 Spencer ripped the full length of the icy 60-meter lead rope through Jenkins' completely locked-off belay, and then came to a stop with the rope taut. Quote
esugi Posted January 10, 2009 Posted January 10, 2009 In Cody climbing right now. There is a ton of snow here. Yesterday, started snowing around 2pm and by the time we rapped off Broken Hearts, some 2-3" on the ground and more was coming down. Quote
G-spotter Posted January 11, 2009 Posted January 11, 2009 Analysis here: http://gravsports.blogspot.com/2009/01/use-auto-block-belay-device.html Quote
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