posted 01/22/10 06:10 PM | updated 02/05/10 05:06 AM
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Update: Skier dies in avalanche in the Seattle Ridge area of Sun Valley Resort

By SVO
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Avalanche viewed from Broadway. Victim was found in the trees above the person. The avalanche extended above the trees near the top of the photo. (Avalanche Center)

The Blaine County Coroner confirmed that a skier caught in an avalanche on Bald Mountain has died. Next of kin haven't been notified so the name of the victim hasn't been released.

Update: Officials have identified the victim of the avalanche. 54-year-old Timothy L. Michael of Ketchum was the skier who was killed in the avalanche on Friday.

Earlier the Sun Valley Resort made the following statement:

At 2:31 pm today the Sun Valley Ski Patrol responded to a report of a buried male skier on Bald Mountain. Avalanche rescue procedures were instituted and at 2:46 pm the ski patrol located the skier. He was found in a slide below Fire Trail Lane above Lower Broadway. CPR was started and the skier was transported to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the skier and his family. We would like to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of the Sun Valley Ski Patrol and the Ketchum Fire Department,” said Tim Silva, General Manager, Sun Valley Resort.

On the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche center, their current advisory for the South and Central Wood River Valley area stated the following:

The avalanche danger is estimated to be HIGH. Recent storms have finally loaded extremely fragile faceted snow that is now buried about 2 feet deep. Although conditions are not likely to be as touchy as they were yesterday, additional snowfall today will cause dangerous avalanche conditions to persist in this region. Control work on Baldy produced numerous slides yesterday, and a triggered avalanche may have occurred out of bounds. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended, and this includes beneath steep snow covered slopes out our lower elevation side canyons. Strong southeasterly winds overnight will keep wind slabs a concern today – watch for these on upper elevation exposed slopes.

"High" is the 2nd highest rating level of avalanche danger on a 5-level scale.

If you were an eye witness, please share any details of what you saw in the comments below.

Update: Saturday morning Lower Broadway remained closed as numerous blasts were heard for avalanche control.

The Avalanche Center had the following on their website Saturday:

Special Announcement:

Sadly there was avalanche fatality on an off-piste run in bounds on Baldy yesterday. Our sincere condolences go out to the family of the victim.

Severe avalanche conditions will persist throughout the weekend in the backcountry areas close to Ketchum, Hailey, and Bellevue, and this is not the time to duck the rope on Baldy. Many areas further to the north also remain dangerous. Backcountry recreationalists are urged to exercise caution over the weekend.

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Av death
It looks like a very minor slide of like 15-20 feet. UMMM...
Comment by mike
7 months ago
( 0 votes )
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