12/31/2022 Field Report - Northern San Juan

Centerline, Waterfall Canyon

Two backcountry skiers were skiing in Waterfall Canyon west of the town of Ophir. From the ridge they descended a slope locally known as “Mustang”. Approximately a third of the way down this slope, they traversed west from Mustang to another slope locally known as “Centerline”. Skier 1 descended the upper portion of Centerline first, and stopped in the trees to the skiers right of Centerline to film Skier 2’s decent. Skier 2 triggered the avalanche on his second or third turn. It “quickly swept him off his feet”. The avalanche carried him about 600 vertical feet down a gully and trhough sparse trees. When the avalanche stopped, it fully buried Skier 2 about five feet deep. Skier 1 provided the following account: “Skier 1 joined Skier 2 at the Waterfall Canyon Trailhead in Ophir at approximately 8:30 AM and they left the trailhead together around 8:40 AM. Their plan was to skin to the top of a locally know run called “Mustang” where they could discuss conditions along the way and assess a descent plan from there. It was discussed that they definitely wanted to avoid “Centerline” before they left the trailhead. The pair ascended the well-used up track on the western side of Waterfall Canyon. On the way up they crossed paths with several other local parties that they knew and discussed what everyone’s plans were. They reached the top of Mustang and decided to stick with the plan of skiing Mustang proper. As they dropped over the knoll, from the transition point, they approached Mustang proper to find many ski tracks through it. The group decided to ski a NE facing tree shot from the top of Mustang towards Centerline with the notion of contouring back around to the bottom of Mustang. They skied this pitch with no visible signs of avalanche hazards and reached the bottom of the trees at the opening to the top of Centerline. Skier 2 skied the first pitch hugging the tree line and safely tucked into the trees and radioed up to Skier 1 that he was in a safe zone. It should also be noted that there were 3 existing tracks in Centerline that overlapped the slide path.” Rescue summary:Skier 1 watched the avalanche run into the gully. He radioed Skier 2 with no response. Another gorup of backcountry tourers watched the avalanche occur and called on a common radio channel l asking if everyone was okay. A third group heard the radio traffic and one of the party (Skier 3) headed toward the accident site. Ophir residents also heard the radio traffic and called 911 before heading towards Waterfall Canyon with a rescue sled. Skier 1 began a transceiver search as he descened the avalanhe path. He followed the signal to a lowest reading of 1.6m and probed, striking Skier 2. Skier 1 began to dig. Skier 3 arrived and began to help. They reached Skier 2 in about 10 minutes. Skier 2 was unresonsive, but taking “deep, labored breaths”. More rescuers arrived on scene. The group excavated Skier 2 and provided first aid. Skier 2 was eventually able to exit the backcountry under his own power. Aditional Comments: Skier 2 provided a detailed writeup of the rescue to the CAIC. He said that “the fast actions taken by other groups in the area, their medical skill and experience, and the availability of two-way radios likely saved Skier 2’s life.” The Telluride Mountain Club estabilshed common 2-way radio channels and protocols for the Bear Creek and Ophir areas in 2020. The protocols were instrumental for a fast resuce in this instance, and have been intrumental in other avalanche rescues (3/31/2020, 3/24/2020).

The avalanche released at the interface between the recent 25 to 50cm of storm snow and very weak facets which formed during a period dry cold weather in December. As the avalanche moved down the slope, it gouged through the facet layer to the ground.

November and much of December were dry and cold. Snowfall began on December 27. By December 31, over 20 inches of snow had fallen in the area. At the Lizard Head Pass SNOTEL site, about 2 miles southwest of the avalanche site at an elevation of 10200 feet, Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) values increased by 2.1 inches between December 27 and 31. Temperatures reached 31F at 10200 feet on the day of the accident.