Uncategorized
UPDATED: Cedar Basin avalanche claims life of YC patroller
Published
8 years agoon
By Joseph T. O’Connor EBS Managing Editor
BIG SKY – A Yellowstone Club ski patroller was recently killed in a Jan. 19 avalanche outside the ski area’s boundary in the northern Madison Range.
Poor snow stability due to early season cold temperatures and wind loading across the southwest Montana has led to numerous natural and human-triggered avalanches in recent weeks.
The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Darren Johnson, 34, of Big Sky, who succumbed to trauma-related injuries sustained after the slide near Cedar Basin carried him through a tight pocket of trees, according to a Jan. 20 Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center advisory report.
Johnson, who had patrolled at the Yellowstone Club since 2010, and a fellow patroller were helping two Montana State University snow science program researchers collect data in the Cedar Basin area.
The foursome left the Yellowstone Club boundary at approximately 9 a.m. and traveled to the research site utilizing safe-travel techniques, according to Chris Bilbrey, one of the researchers as well as an avalanche safety instructor for the Friends of the GNFAC, a nonprofit dedicated to avalanche education and awareness in southwest Montana.
“We had had great group communication and made good travel decisions,” said Bilbrey, who also worked for
10 years as a ski patroller and assistant snow safety technician at Colorado’s Wolfe Creek Ski Area. “We achieved the work objective around 2:30 [p.m.] and decided as group how to get back to ski area, based on prevailing winds and other natural avalanche activity in the area.”The group agreed to ski one at a time down a south-facing, low-angle aspect back to the Yellowstone Club boundary. Bilbrey went first, and after stopping in a safe location below a stand of trees, signaled to the group to send the next skier.
“I looked up, and [Johnson] dropped into the far skiers’ right side of [the] bowl,” Bilbrey said. “He made [a] hard check turn to the right and the whole bowl propagated. It happened super quick.”
According to GNFAC Director Doug Chabot, the wind-loaded slope broke at a 2-4-foot crown approximately 300 feet wide, and slid 300 vertical feet, carrying Johnson about 50 feet through the trees.
“There were three feet of dense, windblown snow on top of a steep slope,” said Chabot, who conducted the avalanche investigation the following day along with MSU Snow Science Laboratory Director Jordy Hendrikx. “He was the trigger.”
Skiing a slightly different aspect of the same slope no matter how minor, according to Bilbrey, can have tragic consequences.
“I think it boils down to Darren getting on the wrong aspect and the wrong part of the slope,” Bilbrey said. “That’s the special variability of a mountain snowpack and that’s why we have to continue to pursue snow research.”
The rest of the group reached Johnson within 2-3 minutes, but found the patroller with a weak pulse and breathing intermittently. They radioed dispatch and began the rescue operation, which consisted of a Yellowstone Club ski patrol snowmobile towing him by toboggan to a flat area at the club where an air ambulance helicopter transported Johnson to the Big Sky Medical Center.
“Darren has been part of our Yellowstone Club family since November 2010 and we are devastated by this tragedy,” wrote Hans Williamson, Yellowstone Club general manager and vice president, in a Jan. 20 email to EBS. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
In a heavy snow year with a weak layer, as much of the Rocky Mountain West is seeing this winter, Chabot
says it’s that much more important to be careful while traveling in the mountains.“We have a really weak snowpack, and we’re cautioning people that it will take a long time for this layer to get strong again,” he said.
Hendrikx says it’s tragic when fatalities occur in the mountains, and this was a situation he wished would have gone differently. He says it’s also more reason to continue snow research, however. The study of snow and avalanches isn’t flawless.
Visit GNFAC’s website at mtavalanche.com for up-to-date snowpack conditions and avalanche forecasts.
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during
more
Event Details
Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during their regular Toddler and Preschool Storytime on Wednesday, March 20, at 10:15 a.m. The free program, presented by the Bozeman Symphony is especially for children ages 3 to 5. Children will be able to listen to Montana Shakespeare in the Parks actor Emma Rather, who will be joined by Bozeman Symphony Bassoonist Sam Macken. The goal of the program is to encourage a love of music, literacy, and discovery. Additional programs are scheduled at the Library on April 10 and June 12. For more information, visit www.bozemansymphony.org or call 406-585-9774.
Time
(Wednesday) 10:15 am - 10:45 am
Location
Bozeman Public Library
626 E. Main St, Bozeman, MT