SNOWMASS PATROLLER TRIGGERED FATAL AVALANCHE
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3 comment(s)
Publish Date
01/07/2013
SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., Jan. 7, 2013—Snowmass ski patroller Patsy Hileman, 49, triggered the avalanche that killed her Dec. 30 at Snowmass, in the same area where the ski patrol had performed control work three days before the accident, according to a report from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
Ski patrol had used explosives to trigger an avalanche in the Ship's Prow Glades, a permanently closed area, on Dec. 27, the report said. Hileman was skiing alone while on duty and was in the Ship’s Prow Glade. It appeared that she triggered and was caught in a small avalanche and was swept over a cliff. There were no witnesses to the accident.
“This is a shocking and tragic accident that deeply affects everyone in the company,” Aspen Skiing Co. president and CEO Mike Kaplan said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with her family and friends at this time.”
Comments
Dancin in the fire will
Billy Kidd on 01/10/2013 - 8:19am
Dancin in the fire will eventually get you burntPatroller skiing alone
Ted on 01/09/2013 - 8:28am
Ski patrolmen routinely and more often than not, ski alone. Additionally, ski patrolmen ski closed areas for many reasons including but not limited to: pursuing a skier that went into the closed area, responding to the report of a skier has wondered into the area to investigate, following the tracks of skiers that go into the area to make sure that they got out.....more. TedWhy was this patroller skiing
Billy Kidd on 01/08/2013 - 8:30pm
Why was this patroller skiing in a permanently closed area alone ? Seems like an unsafe practice for those who are in charge of safety ?
