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2025 Archive Index - All Editions

Guests at hot-spring resort stranded by avalanche

Over 100 people were stranded in two hotels in a hot-spring resort area in Fukushima, northeastern Japan, after a nearby road was blocked by an avalanche early Monday, local authorities said. The avalanche occurred at around 4 a.m. in the Tsuchiyu Onsen district, located in a mountainous area in the southwest of the city of Fukushima. The snow covering the road was cleared at around 10:20 a.m., but another one hit the road before noon. Fukushima Prefecture is one of many areas of Japan that have been hit by heavy snowfall since last week. In the morning service resumed on a rail section between Fukushima and Shinjo that had been suspended due to the derailment of a snow removal vehicle.
More ... (Kyodo News)

Avalanche leaves 40 Feet of Snow on road in ID

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) says a lack of snow has resulted in it having one of its most unusual winters in its almost 40-year history. Six mountain areas - Lochaber, Glen Coe, Creag Meagaidh, Torridon and Northern and Southern Cairngorms - are monitored for avalanche risk from between mid-December to mid-April. Usually by this stage in the season SAIS has recorded 100 to 150 avalanches which are gathered from its own teams' observations and reports from the public - but it has gathered details of just over 20 so far.

Co-ordinator Mark Diggins also said that for the first time in nearly 20 years there had been periods this season when SAIS had issued no daily avalanche hazard reports because snow was so scarce. "In January there was a period of a week or so we didn't produce reports." Mr Diggins said: "The snow has been quite thin this winter, quite cosmetic. "As soon as it snows, a new warm period comes and it disappears quite quickly."
More ... (BBC)

Solitude: Ducking Ropes Could Result in Jail Time

Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah has reiterated its stance against rope-ducking following recent avalanche incidents, one of which resulted in a fatality in the adjacent Silver Fork backcountry terrain. On February 8, 2025, a guest also triggered an avalanche in Honeycomb Canyon after entering a closed area, requiring a response from ski patrol. The resort now warns that entering closed terrain will result in pass suspension for at least 30 days, potentially extending to the entire season. Additionally, offenders may face legal consequences, including up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for a Class B misdemeanor.

Solitude’s strict policy aligns with industry-wide efforts to combat rope-ducking. Bear Valley Ski Patrol in California recently shared a similar message, reminding skiers and snowboarders that ducking ropes expose them to numerous hazards above and below the snow. And last season, Mammoth Mountain introduced stricter policies, saying “ducking a rope closure will now result in suspending the offender’s season pass for 30 days upon the first offense. Subsequently, a second violation will revoke the season pass for the remainder of the skiing season. For holders of single or multi-day tickets, all remaining days will be forfeited upon the first offense.”

The Silver Fork fatality is in our database but few details are available yet. On the same day 3 skiers were caught in Dutch Draw, after leaving the area boundary in Park City. Dutch Draw has been the site of numerous fatalities over recent years, the backcountry gate that used to be used has been closed. Skiers still access it and a photo of the recent incident shows many tracks on the slope. (Which was also true in the previous fatal incidents.) The Dutch Draw incident will hopefully get into the database but if not it will be included here in the near future, it's history makes it noteworthy.
More ... (Snowbrains)