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Show cA Ds TheSalt Lake Tribune SPORTS Friday, March 29, 1996 AvalancheKills Skier in Little Cottonwood Canyon LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON — As the mercury rose Wednesday, so did the avalanche hazard in the Wasatch Mountains as a top layer of snow turned to unstable slush. These conditions proved fatal for backcountry skier Werner Ruegner, 50, who was slammed into trees by moving snow at about 3 p.m. While separated fromhis two ski companions, he unleashed a small avalanche of wet snow in Maybird Gulch, a southern drainageof Little Cot- tonwood Canyon, authorities said. The skiers started out from White Pinetrailhead around 11 a.m. for an afternoontour in the drainage below the northern face of the Pfeifferhorn. The condi tions weresafeat the top of May bird, but then deterioratedas the skiers descended at mid-after- noon. The victim, a Salt Lake City man, and his two companions, a young man and woman, realized they were in peril whentheir skis began sinking 6 to 8 inches. knocking sluffs down the steep slope The change in the snow cond tions happened in such ashort distance topo aphically,” said the male companion, who asked to remain anonymous The[top]] I could see the open shots the companion said. “That's not layer was sliding down afirmer surface underneath About a half-mile above into a slide path, mouth ofthe gulch, thegrouptra versed an east-facing slope, hop ing to reach Maybird’s western ridge to makea safer exit from the canyon, theskier said But Ruegner's traverse headed sharply down canyon, while the other two reluctantly followed af: ter losing sight of him where we wanted to be. We hol- lered and got no response Thevictim's tracks disappeared which led the companions to Ruegner — dead against a tree. The slide did not bury the victim, who died from traumatic injuries, said Salt Lake County sheriff's Capt. Lee Smith He was fairly close to the bottom of the drainage,” Smith said Ultimately, he was wrapped around a tree backwards. Wasatch Tours, the most com- plete ski guide to the Cottonwood de: ribes the lower roc y sides. Extremecare should be exercised in this area at all times of the year,” authors David Hanscom andAlexis Kelner wrote. Ruegner triggered the slide on a 40-degree slope at the 7,500- foot elevation, according to an accident reconstruction byforecast- er Bruce Tremper. Becauseofthe convex shapeofthe slope, the avalanche gained a slid about 200 that steepened Shaken and lethal speed asit feet down a face to 48 degrees fearing for their own safety, the companionstook off their skies and postholed a path to the ridge for a two-hour hiketo Little Cottonwood Canyon highway. The twohitched a ride to their vehicle parked at White Pine, then drove to Alta to notify the sheriff. The U.S. Forest Service's pre recorded avalanche forecast an Wednesday did not mention the possibility of wet-slab avalanches. but it is a hazard all backcountry travelers should be wary of this time of year. Wednesday's accident was the Wasatch range’s onlyrecreational avalanche death this winter. How ever, a Solitude ski patroller was fatally injured in February while performing avalanche-control work. Avalanches claimed 17 lives in other Intermountain states. RRR By Brian Maffly nyons, wooded and She ee) ranije FURNITURE COMPANY Join us Saturday, from 10 am to 4 pm, in the Granite Furniture Sugar Houselocation for the second annual Spring Art Show. Twelve of Utah’s &premierlocal and nationalartists will be displaying their artwork. Take advantage ofthis once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend this largest ever gathering ofartists and artwork. Plus save 10% at allfour Granite Furniture locations on our entire collection of Utah Local Artistframedprinis. Save 10% Nationally recognized folk artist on all local artist Eric prints at all four Dowdle Granite Furniture will be displaying his special collection of original paintings. Wilna Holt H.Francis Sellers Ruth Parry Jan Henderson Also present will be water colorist Susan McKean Sculptures by Miles Metzger Julie Jacobsen Debbie O. Hardy ARNOLD'S AR 1050 EAST 2100 SOUTH 486-3333 ni See Utah’s largest local artist gallery including prints by; Al Rounds, Greg Olsen, Kirk Randle, Gary Carter, and many more! LAYTON 1080 HORTH MAIN oor ue SOUTH 84 346-68565 FURNITURECOMPANY : |
