Avalanche Incident
Avalanche Incident
Date: 3/8/98br Time: 1130br Location: Alpine Meadowsbr Avalanche Size: 660-1000ftbr Elevation: 10,000br Incline: steepbr Type: Slabbr Water: Moistbr Avalanche Trigger: Cornice gave waybr Activity: Skiingbr Party Size: 2br People Caught: 1br Partial Burials: 1br Complete Burials: 0br Injured: 1br Fatalities: 0br
Comments: I was skiing with my brother who tested the cornice, he is on the ski patrol at another mountain, and he dropped in. I turned to go to another chute and the cornice gave away. I fell 40-50 feet before I bounced off mountain and slid on my back, head first for a few hundred feet and then got thrown off a rock bed, maybe 30-50 feet in air. I landed and fractured my acetabulum and came to rest about 600 feet down. Slide was 1000 feet, 5 foot depostion. My brother heard it, skied out of the way and then came and got me. It took 2.5 hours to get down to the base lodge. He gave my one of his skis as one of mine was buried and he helped me ski down. I could put no pressure on right leg but he tested my leg and hip and could not find anything broken. I reported it and went to Tahoe hospital where X-Ray revealed fractured acetabulum. They sent me to Reno and did CAT scan and said fracture was only 3 millimeters, so surgery might not be necessary. I flew home 3 days later and am recuperating. 6-8 weeks on crutches or cane and at least 12 weeks until fully healed. If bone does not fuse together well, could still need hip replacement surgery. A day later Alpine set off charges and put up warning sign.
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