Winner Creek Avalanche, 3/14/79
From "The Snowy Torrents"

March 14, 1979. 1 helicopter ski guide caught and buried. Weather Conditions:  The weather conditions described in Winner Creek Avalanche 3/16/79 prevailed into this period.  The Forest Service had issued a high avalanche danger warning on March 9; it was still in effect on March 14.

Accident Summary:  A party of eight skiers, including two guides, took off on the morning of March 14 for a helicopter skiing expedition to the Winner Creek area, about 3 miles northeast of the Mt. Alyeska Ski Area in south-central Alaska.  Skiing in the lead was guide Dave Scott, with guide Danny Jones bringing up the rear.  All skiers were equipped with transceivers, probes, and shovels.  At 13:05, a large slab avalanche released and Jones, last in line, was swept down slope.

The other members of the party were either able to ski out of the slide or were sheltered by terrain features and luckily not caught.  The skiffs had been spread out over about half a mile and it took a few minutes and some head counting to realize that Jones was missing.

Rescue: Three of the group climbed back up to the spot where Jones had last been seen, and found a ski pole.  Turning their transceivers to receive, and using the ski pole as an indicator of Jones' line of movement, they were able to zero in on Jones' position.  Striking Jones' body with a probe, they dug with shovels and reached his head under 5 feet of snow.  Jones, buried 25 minutes, was conscious, in a crouched position facing downslope, hands pinned to his chest, and snow packed in his mouth.

The rest of the group, aware of the situation, skied down to the helicopter.  They flew back to where Jones was being dug out.  Jones was taken to Mt. Alyeska, where he was given first aid for a sprained leg and uncontrollable shivering.  He was transported to an Anchorage hospital where he was found to be in satisfactory condition.

Avalanche Data: Classified SS-AS-3, the avalanche had a fracture depth of 4 feet and a width of close to half a mile across the 30 degree slope.  Only the lower third of the slope released, producing a vertical fall of 600 feet.

Comments: Several factors contributed to Jones' speedy rescue.  Everyone in the party was carrying transceivers, and apparently they knew how to use them.  Also important, they carried probes and shovels.  Jones had a very close call.  Being buried for 25 minutes gave him little more than a 50% chance for survival, and his burial depth cut his chances further.  Only 21% of buried victims have survived a burial deeper than 5 feet.  Only the quick efforts of the party saved him.  This accident illustrates the benefits of educating and training backcountry skiers in rescue techniques.  In these situations, they must depend upon their own preparedness; help is too far away.