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Snowmobiler dies in avalanche near Hasler, BC

One person is dead after they were caught in an avalanche while snowmobiling in northeastern B.C. Avalanche Canada says the individual was riding in a chuted area near Hasler Flat, about 280 kilometres north of Prince George, on Saturday (Jan. 27). They were around tree-line elevation, when a slab of snow broke off and buried them.

The details available at this time, including the archived advisory in effect, are available on avalanche-center.org
Source ... (Avalanche-Center.org archives)

Man buried by avalanche in Polish Tatra dies in hospital

A tourist who was buried by an avalanche in the Polish Tatra Mountains on Sunday has died in hospital. The man had been on a trail leading to the top of Giewont, a popular climb in the Polish Tatra range, during a time of high avalanche risk. He was one of four people who were swept away by the snow when the avalanche hit. Three managed to free themselves, but he remained buried for two hours before being found by members of the Tatra Mountain Rescue Service (TOPR).
The man was taken off the mountain by helicopter and transported to a hospital in Krakow.
More ... (First News, copy also posted in avalanche-center.org archives)

Deadly Avalanche at Gaiskogel North Couloir, Austria

A 28-year-old German woman was killed on Saturday, January 27, in an avalanche near the Gaiskogel, a 2,820 meter (9,252 feet) peak near the ski area Kühtai in Tyrol. The woman had set out with her partner, a 26-year-old German man, and his 32-year-old German friend on a freeski/split-board tour to the Gaiskogel North Couloir. They reached the summit around 11:20 a.m. The snow at the peak was hard and the woman had removed her first skin and put the ski in the ground when a gust of wind blew away the first ski into the eastern flank of the Gaiskogel. The ski came to rest until approximately 200 meters (656 feet) further down.

Her partner decided to ski down this steep eastern flank to retrieve her ski. He was just about to climb back up when he was suddenly caught by an avalanche and was carried down about 20 – 30 meters (65 – 100 feet). He had rolled over several times but was okay.

His friend decided to ski down to come to his aid and he stopped approximately 100 meters (328 feet) lower on a ridge, in order to assess the situation. As he looked up the mountain, he saw the 28-year-old female moving down a few meters below the summit on one ski below a cornice. Suddenly an avalanche broke from the cornice. The 32-year-old managed to avoid being swept away by the avalanche, but the female companion was swept away and buried by the snow masses.

Mountain rescue was notified by the two men and the female skier was found by the mountain rescue. Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and the German woman died at the scene. It is unclear if she was equipped with a beacon. Her partner and his friend were uninjured and were evacuated by the emergency helicopter.
Source ... (Snowbrains)

RI Natl Guard Rescues avalanche survivors in Albania

The online "NOTIFICATION!" was posted by a European mountain rescue service operating in Albania. Its tone was urgent. In the mountains of Albania's Korab range, near Kosovo, rescuers were trying to save the lives of two Swiss skiers who had suffered long hours trapped after an avalanche. The two survivors, a man and a woman, were in stable condition. But they showed symptoms of hypothermia, and their rescuers suspected they had broken bones. They were in the company of a rescue team.

A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was just over Albania's border with Kosovo at a base named Camp Bondsteel. The helicopter's aircrew, a team from Rhode Island Army National Guard, was on duty, awaiting their next rescue mission. And they knew how to use a hoist.

On Sunday, Jan. 21, two skiers commenced a mountain ascent in their ski boots, climbing in an area just northeast of the top of Sorokoli Mountain, according to the mountain rescue service. Sorokoli, which is in front of Korab Mountain, rises to almost 8,000 feet above sea level, according to a local mountain tour operator. As the Swiss skiers climbed, they set off an avalanche that swept them more than 1,000 feet down the mountain, according to the mountain service's social media post. They were not entirely buried in the snow, but they were stuck. The young woman had enough mobility with her hands to declare an "SOS" with her cell phone, according to rescuers.
Source ... (The Providence Journal, extensive article)

Climber killed on Mount Temple, near Lake Louise

This is included because the fall was reportedly due to a small sluff. However, this has not been confirmed and Parks Canada has classified it as "unwitnessed" rather than "avalanche". Reports vary on whether it was climbing or skiing, it seems most likely to be climbing.

Mounties say a Saskatchewan man was killed Friday on Mount Temple, the highest peak in the Lake Louise, Alta., area. In an initial report provided to Avalanche Canada by Parks Canada, it was reported the skier was hit by a sluff — a small release of loose snow — from a rock face and knocked off his feet while climbing up the mountain. The two other members of his party descended safely to find their friend dead from injuries sustained in the fall. Avalanche Canada has removed the report after an update from Parks Canada, reclassifying this incident as an "unwitnessed fall, rather than an avalanche accident."
Source ... (CBC News)

2 Inbounds Avalanches at Washington Ski Resorts

On Sunday, January 28, two inbounds avalanches were triggered at Washington state ski resorts. One at Mission Ridge and the other at Stevens Pass. No guests were caught in either avalanche although 3 guests were in the area at Mission Ridge and the one at Stevens Pass was human triggered. The unstable snow conditions were brought on by warming temperatures and rain in the area. Most likely the slides were wet slabs due to sustained warm temperatures and rain..
Source ... (Snowbrains)

Reported Buriel(s) on Ruby Mountain Heli-Ski Tour

According to the Elko Report, two skiers were reportedly buried and safely rescued after an avalanche was triggered in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada. The slide occurred on January 15 at 1:26 pm in Lamoille Canyon, in northeastern Nevada. The Elko Report also noted that all members of the party are safe and free of injuries. It was later determined that the avalanche occurred during a Ruby Mountain Heli (RMH) tour.

According to RMH guide, Mike Royer, no one was buried in the slide. Royer responded with this comment: “There was one individual involved, no one was buried or extracted, and no injuries occurred whatsoever.”

However, a local guide who operates in the same area (who prefers to stay anonymous out of concern for legal action by RMH, who has a reputation of suing competitors in the area) explained that one or two skiers were buried and rescued.
Source ... (Snowbrains)