Fall on Snow, Inadequate Equipment—No Ice Axe, Poor Position—Attempted Short-Cut

Publication Year: 1995.

FALL ON SNOW, INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT—NO ICE AXE, POOR POSITION— ATTEMPTED SHORT-CUT

Oregon, Mount Jefferson, Southwest Ridge

On August 6, 1994, Gabriella Klassen (43), along with three others in her party, was descending the Southwest ridge after having climbed to Red Saddle at 10,000 feet. At 1530 the party stopped at the 8,700 foot level when Ms. Klassen decided to take a “short-cut” across a 35 degree snowfield. While descending, she slipped and slid backwards down the snow slope 40 feet, striking her back on a rock. Ms. Klassen was stabilized by members of her party and an Outward Bound group who happened by. She was reached by rescuers the next morning and helicoptered off the mountain. She has since recovered from her injuries. (Source: Jeremy Adolf and Bob Freund, Corvalis Mountain Rescue)