FALL ON SNOW—SKIING

British Columbia, Selkirk Mountains, North Alberta Peak

On August 23, 1986, a party of four experienced ski mountaineers was descending from North Alberta peak, altitude 2932 meters, 25 kilometers east of Revelstoke. They were on Nordic mountain skis. At an altitude of 2650 meters, one of the skiers overbalanced while attempting a turn on the steep hard snow. The fall resulted in a rapid slide into large boulders. The victim suffered deep, massive hematoma to the left thigh and feelings of weakness and nausea. One member of the party stayed with the victim while the other two went for help. (Source: E. Dafoe, Mount Revelstoke/Glacier National Park)

Analysis

The skiers had been off skis since April, and were skiing on the hard snow of late summer. The injury resulted from attempting a turn on steep terrain close to rocks. (Source: E. Dafoe, Mount Revelstoke/Glacier National Park)