ICE AVALANCHE

British Columbia, Coast Mountains, Slesse Mountain

Eric Dirksen (24) and Seph Fraden (24) were approaching Slesse’s northeast buttress about 3 p.m. on August 1, 1980. The weather was hot and the route passes under a hanging glacier from which avalanches had been seen falling the day before. A large ice avalanche fell as they were passing. Dirksen was killed instantly while Fraden escaped with a broken arm and facial lacerations and was able to get down by himself. A party later attempting to retrieve Dirksen’s body was exposed to considerable hazard and the following morning a still larger avalanche swept the same area. (Source: J. Bryceland)