Swift Creek, Wyoming 10 February 1962

From: The Snowy Torrents

WEATHER FACTORS
Three days prior to the 10th, the weather had been warm and rainy. The snow-pack was relatively deep. This created a condition which was ideal for damp or wet snow slides.

ACCIDENT SUMMARY
Located about two miles east of Afton, Wyoming Swift Creek Canyon appeared to have an excellent potential for development into a ski area. Prior to February, 1962, the area had been inspected by Forest Service avalanche experts, who refused to recommend the site for future development because of its extreme avalanche hazards. Despite these recommendations, several local people were still convinced that the area could be used for skiing. Consequently, on Saturday afternoon, 10 February, Dr. M. S., a local dentist and an avid skier, and a companion, B. G., went into Swift Creek on snowshoes to appraise the snow and slide conditions. They had purposely chosen a day when the slide potential was high. On entering the canyon, the two men located the power company pipeline and followed it to the mouth of Sheep Canyon. Form there they went by snowshoes two miles up Sheep Canyon. After checking conditions the two men started back. When they got to the pipeline, they decided to walk it back down and carry their snowshoes and ski poles. At this point they had already passed thought the most hazardous areas in the canyon. About a mile and a half from the power plant they came to a small slide, which had come down earlier in the day. It covered the line and went into the creek. They assumed with some justification, that since the snow had already avalanched, the hazard had been eliminated; hence the men felt safe in crossing the slide path. As they started across the slide, B. G. was ahead of Dr. M. S. Just as they reached the center, they heard the snow release near the top of the slope. (Only the bottom section slid in the earlier avalanche) B. G. shouted a warning to Dr. M. S., though he undoubtedly heard the slide also. Instead of moving backwards out of the slide's path, both men impulsively headed down the slide's path and across the creek, in an attempt to outrun the cascading snow. As long as the two men ran on the packed surface of the old slide, they were able to excape the avalanche, but as they ran off the first slide into the soft snow, both sunk down too far to move any further. Dr. M.S. sunk into the snow much further than B.G.; his hands were at the heel of the other man's feet. Just as B. G. reached out to help him, the wet, heavy snow slammed into the two men. Though he attempted to kick himself free, B. G. was buried up to his waist. He watched another wave of snow run towards him, but fortunately it stopped short of his position. Dr. M. S. was completely buried. B. G. worked himself free and frantically began to dig for his companion. He worked alone for some time, but the snow was so hard that he could make little headway. He continued to dig until he felt that either his friend was dead or that he might be in an air pocket. If the latter were true, the best ting B. G. could do was to get help. When he reported the accident in Afton, many people immediately responded. Forty or fifty men with shovels went into the area. A short while later Dr. M. S.'s body was found. Although a doctor at the scene knew the man was dead, a resuscitator of the Afton Fire Department was used in vain effort to revive him.

COMMENTS
The assumption that a slide path is safe after an avalanche has come down is a sound one, if there are not other potential slides left hanging. The latter situation is sometimes difficult to recognize. In this case the victims were unaware of the remaining hazard. Later release of the upper part of slab, as happened her, is an unusual occurrence. Why it was triggered at the fatal moment remains a mystery.