A man snow biking in the mountain’s northwest of Cascade, Idaho near Lookout Peak was killed in an avalanche on Sunday. The Payette Avalanche Center (PAC) reports a group of two snow bikers triggered the avalanche and one was caught and fully buried. The avalanche was reported to be relatively small but the victim was carried into a terrain trap and buried deep. He was located with an avalanche beacon and extricated but did not survive. The incident happened just south of the Payette Avalanche Center forecast area. PAC forecasters plan to visit the site today to perform an investigation. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends. Find the PAC preliminary report below.
An avalanche fatality occurred in the mountains northwest of Cascade, ID near Lookout Peak. A group of two snow bikers triggered an avalanche, and one was caught and fully buried. The slide was reported to be relatively small, but the rider was carried into a terrain trap and buried deeply. He was found with an avalanche beacon and extricated, but did not survive. The accident occurred just south of the Payette Avalanche Center forecast area. PAC forecasters plan to visit the site on Monday to perform an investigation. Our condolences go out to those impacted by this incident.
Observation Summary:
Pulled up to a group already resuscitating a rider, heavy wind loaded face, looked like guys dropped in then looped back and tried to ride back up when the slab broke, 1 rider ahead managed to float on the bike down, 1 got knocked down went in head first and got buried upside down, I have seen this spot slide multiple times but nothing this extreme. After 1 hr of cpr and ent showing up the rider that got buried did not make it. This happened around 2pm, besides this incident saw one spot mid mountain that showed cracking but it did not slide, it is on average 1-2ft deep on a wet layer from the inversion, lakes are not frozen either.
