Avalanche, Alberta, Rocky Mountains, Mount Athabasca

Publication Year: 1982.

AVALANCHE

Alberta, Rocky Mountains, Mount Athabasca

On August 30, 1980, Glen Parker (26), Dolores Parker (20), and Roy Walter (18) were ascending the normal route (north glacier, saddle, north ridge) on Mount Athabasca. They were roped together with G. Parker in the lead and Walter last. A slab fracture occurred below G. Parker, about halfway up a steep snow slope leading toward the saddle. He attempted to hold with his ice ax, but it pulled out and they were all carried down by the avalanche. When it stopped, G. Parker and D. Parker were on the surface but Walter had been swept into a crevasse and buried under about six feet of snow.

Two other climbers starting to climb the Silverhorn Arête came to help and Walter was uncovered after about 20 minutes. Two of the climbers then set out to report the accident and obtain further help. In spite of attempts at resuscitation, which started as soon as his head had been cleared and continued for two and a half hours, the victim could not be revived. (Source: D. A. Dumpleton, Jasper National Park; G. Parker, S. Davis, and S. Wyatt)

Analysis

There were eight to ten inches of fresh snow, slab conditions, and a running surface of old compacted snow. The fracture line was 60 feet long and 12 inches high on a 35-degree slope. The slide was triggered by the climbers. Shovels would have speeded the digging. (Source: D. A. Dumpleton, Jasper National Park)