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2025 Archive Index - All Editions

In This Edition:

Avalanche on K2 claims life of Pakistani mountaineer

Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Iftikhar Sadpara died after being struck by an avalanche during an expedition on K2, the world’s second-highest peak. The tragic incident occurred as climbers ascended the mountain in challenging weather conditions. According to Deputy Commissioner Arif Hussain, Sadpara was buried under a mass of snow following the avalanche. His body was later retrieved and transported via helicopter to Skardu, where he will be laid to rest in his ancestral village of Sadpara later today. Three foreign climbers accompanying Sadpara sustained minor injuries in the incident but were safely evacuated and provided with medical care. Rescue efforts were coordinated by local authorities in collaboration with international agencies.
More ... (Samaa)

Huge Landslide in New York’s Adirondacks

A landslide in New York’s Adirondack Mountains has reshaped the popular Avalanche Pass trail, prompting mixed reactions: disappointment from hikers but excitement from backcountry skiers. Avalanche Pass, a renowned hiking destination, is also a premier winter skiing spot. Described by the Adirondack Explorer as “the classic ski tour in the Adirondack Park,” it features steep terrain, snow, ice, and tight Northeast turns. In Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast, author David Goodman calls the Avalanche Pass and Lake Colden ski tour “one of the most spectacular ski tours in the Eastern United States.” Skiers are now anticipating that the altered landscape may create new skiing lines and opportunities during the upcoming winter season.

[Close to all of the potential avalanche terrain in the Adirondacks is in slides such as this new one. The article has some impressive photos of the scale of the slide.]
More ... (Gripped)

Advanced Avalanche Radar Planned For Hoback Canyon

Hoback Canyon in northwest Wyoming is notorious for being avalanche-prone. It’s been selected to get a new cutting-edge avalanche radar system that can detect potential slides 24/7 in any weather. That promises faster road closures and safety for drivers. WYDOT plans to use this technology specifically to monitor the notorious Cow and Calf of the Woods avalanche paths in Hoback Canyon, which have proven particularly challenging to predict using conventional methods.

The technology represents another upgrade to WYDOT's anti-avalanche arsenal, which included a 105 mm Howitzer for lobbing shells at snowy mountainsides up Teton Canyon to preventively trigger big slides while the highway was closed. The department has been performing avalanche mitigation in Teton County since 1972, evolving from military artillery to increasingly sophisticated automated systems. Those include GAZ-EX exploders operational since 1992, Avalanche Guard systems since 2003, and O'BELLX systems that use a hydrogen to oxygen gas mixture for controlled explosions in Hoback Canyon.

The total project cost is estimated to be $472,450. The federal share (now uncertain) was set at $377,960, with WYDOT providing the remaining money.
More ... (Cowboy State Daily)