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Analysis of the Durrand Glacier Avalanche Accident

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<strong>Durrand</strong> <strong>Avalanche</strong> Report page 13<br />

June 19, 2003<br />

Guide’s<br />

Position<br />

Fatal<br />

<strong>Avalanche</strong><br />

<strong>Durrand</strong> <strong>Glacier</strong><br />

Fig. 13: Upper portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> La Traviata gully, looking easterly. The dashed blue line is <strong>the</strong><br />

approximate uphill track <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ski tourers.<br />

4. The two groups <strong>of</strong> ski tourers first traversed across <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> couloir, and continued<br />

up as far as <strong>the</strong>y could to under rock bluffs on <strong>the</strong> west side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> La Traviata couloir (see<br />

Figure 12 above). They <strong>the</strong>n kick turned, and traversed back across <strong>the</strong> couloir to <strong>the</strong><br />

rocky ridge on <strong>the</strong> east side. At this point, <strong>the</strong>y continued to zigzag up <strong>the</strong> couloir, making<br />

several more kick turns before <strong>the</strong>y reached <strong>the</strong> top. According to Larry Stanier’s report to<br />

<strong>the</strong> Coroner, <strong>the</strong>y were told to stay two metres (five feet) apart as <strong>the</strong>y ascended <strong>the</strong><br />

couloir.<br />

5. To <strong>the</strong> east (ascender’s right) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> La Traviata couloir, <strong>the</strong> slope angle<br />

decreases to an average angle <strong>of</strong> about 23° (see Pr<strong>of</strong>ile 2 on Appendix 1). This means that<br />

once <strong>the</strong>y left <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> couloir, <strong>the</strong> guide and <strong>the</strong> first seven skiers were on much more<br />

gentle ground (see Figure 14 below). This windswept area near <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> slope is an<br />

open slope on <strong>the</strong> windward (east) side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prominent rocky ridge that borders <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> La Traviata couloir. According to snow pr<strong>of</strong>iles prepared immediately after <strong>the</strong><br />

accident, <strong>the</strong> snow in <strong>the</strong> windswept area above and to <strong>the</strong> east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> couloir was in <strong>the</strong><br />

order <strong>of</strong> 50 cm deep.<br />

6. At <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> couloir, Ruedi Beglinger exited to <strong>the</strong> right (east) crossing from deep,<br />

wind-deposited snow in <strong>the</strong> couloir to more shallow and low angled snow on his right.<br />

Seven o<strong>the</strong>r members <strong>of</strong> his group soon followed him onto <strong>the</strong> shallower snow.<br />

Copyright: no part <strong>of</strong> this report may be reproduced without <strong>the</strong> written permission <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> author.

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