Second Skier In A Week Gets Caught, Injured In Avalanche Outside JHMR

The slide path in question | Photo: Bridger Teton Avalanche Center

On the day after Christmas, a female skier was caught, carried, and injured in an avalanche south of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

The skier triggered the slide just 3 days after a snowboarder saw similar results in the area known to locals as Broken Branch. According to reports, the skier was buried all the way up to her helmet. Thankfully, her companions were quick to dig her out. The victim involved was injured and lost equipment in the avalanche. As a result, she was rescued via helicopter and transported to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson.

“Yesterday a skier triggered a slab avalanche south of the boundary of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. This skier was carried a long distance, buried except for a portion of her helmet and injured. Another skier was caught, carried and injured after triggering a slab avalanche south of the boundary of the resort on Monday. Either of these events could have been fatal.” – Bridger Teton Avalanche Center

New snowfall over the past 72 hours has heightened avalanche risk in the area and backcountry users should exercise caution while traveling in avalanche prone terrain. Although the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center has only issued a “moderate” risk advisory for the Tetons, their website is warning backcountry users that “areas of unstable snow exist in steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations.” As always, if you don’t know– don’t go.