The report from: http://www.skiingthebackcountry.com/jackson_hole_ski_partoller_accident.ph
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Update 1-8-09 8:32 PM MST

We are so sad to report that Big Wally is not going to make it. May he rest in peace, skiing powder and joining loved ones who have already passed. We are so grateful for his life’s work of protecting people he didn’t even know from the dangers of avalanches. Be sure to thank every ski patroller that you see for risking their lives! In these last moments of Mark’s life, we know that he is surrounded by people who love him and pray for their comfort during this difficult decision.

Update 1/7/09 9:41 PM, as published in the Jackson Hole News and Guide

Family at patroller’s side

For information on Mark Wolling’s condition, register at www.carepages.com

By Angus M. Thuermer Jr., Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Jackson Hole News and Guide
January 8, 2010

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patroller Mark “Big Wally” Wolling was still listed in critical condition Thursday afternoon in the Intensive Care Unit of the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, his father said.

Wolling was buried for 10 minutes in an avalanche Wednesday morning in the resort’s Cheyenne Bowl. He had no detectable pulse when found and freed, but patrollers rushed him to a clinic in Teton Village, where medical workers got his heart pumping, resort officials said.

“About all we can do is hope for his recovery,” Wolling’s father, Spencer, said in a telephone interview Thursday. “As far as we can tell, he’s getting excellent care.”

The ski patroller has been in a coma that doctors deepened, said Mike Fischer, one of three Jackson Hole friends who have been with him since his accident. Fischer spoke in a telephone interview.

Friends have set up a Web site through www.carepages.com/ that provides medical updates. Users must register to read the updates, and they also can post messages to Wolling and his family.

In addition to his father, Wolling was visited Thursday by his mother, Mildred, and sister, Sue.

“We saw him today and he looks good,” Spencer Wolling said.

Doctors have kept Wolling cool and sedated as part of their treatment, Fischer said. By today, they anticipate warming him up, weaning him from drugs and initiating neurological tests, he said.

An obvious worry centers on possible oxygen deprivation before Wolling’s revival, his father said. In addition to the 10-minute burial, the patroller spent six minutes in a rescue toboggan and another eight minutes in the clinic before medical workers detected a pulse, according to information resort officials provided.

“We just don’t know if the loss of oxygen impaired any of his functions,” Spencer Wolling said.

The anticipated neurological tests will not be a definitive indication of potential recovery, Fischer said doctors told him.

“They can’t just put a machine on and find out,” he said.

He said there appeared to be no significant physical trauma.

Spencer Wolling said friends and family may not get answers immediately.

“We may have to wait a few days,” he said.

Wolling was on routine avalanche hazard reduction duties Wednesday when he was caught in the slide. The mountain was not yet open to the public when the avalanche ran.

Wolling had thrown one hand charge on the slope in Cheyenne Bowl without provoking a slide. He skied on to the slope, followed by his patrol partner. He then threw two more hand charges, which fractured the slope above them.

Wolling’s partner clung to a tree. After the slide, he found Wolling in debris well down the 1,000-foot-long avalanche path using a radio transceiver. Wolling was uncovered from under about 6 feet of snow.

Update 1/7/2010 3:06 MST
An Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center spokesperson on Thursday afternoon said avalanche victim Mark Wolling remained in critical condition, meaning the patients vital signs are unstable and there are major complications, the spokesperson explained.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming, January 6, 2010 4.00pm MST

As stated previously at approximately 8:26am this morning routine early morning avalanche hazard reduction work by Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) Ski Patrol triggered an avalanche on the upper mountain.

This incident took place prior to the lifts being open to the public. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort received 10 inches of snow in the previous 24 hours and substantial amounts in the previous week.

Further Information regarding the avalanche site:
Length of Avalanche Path – Approx: 1000 feet
Crown Height (Max): 42 inches. 3.5 feet
Crown Length: 130 feet wide
Avy Classification (1-5): R3D3
Cliff Band Height: 25-30 feet
Slope Angle: 34 Degrees

The next JHMR statement regarding this incident will be made if we hear any change to the current condition of veteran ski patroller Mark Wolling who was caught in the slide. Mark “Big Wally” Wolling is hospitalized at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

After two tragic avalanche incidents last year, sources are reporting that yet another avalanche accident has occurred at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. When we contacted the mountain an employee was quoted as saying he could not deny or confirm the death of a ski patroller, Mark “Big Wally” Wolling.

The resort offered the following account of the accident:

Members of ski patrol were conducting routine avalanche hazard reduction on the Cheyenne Bowl Route at approximately 9,350 feet. Wolling threw and exploded a hand charge from Rendezvous Trail into Cheyenne Bowl with no result.

He and his partner ski cut the area below and stopped above a cliff. Wolling threw two more hand charges. These exploded simultaneously and caused the snow to fracture above where both stood.

Wolling’s partner, whom the resort did not name, was able to grab a tree. Wolling was swept over the cliff and down the slope into the bowl.

Ski patrollers conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and administered an automated external defibrillator while readying for transport to the village clinic. The AED is the mechanism that did not detect a pulse and hence did not administer a shock.

The slope had not been open to the public this season. It had been visited and bombed by ski patrol earlier this winter, however.

At the time of transport to St. John’s Medical Center, Wolling was exhibiting vital signs.

St. John’s Medical Center reported at 12:35 that Wolling would be transported via fixed-wing ambulance to Idaho Falls.

Wolling has been on the patrol since 1989.

“[Wolling] is an amazing person who has been on the JHMR team since 1978, he’s definitely part of our family.” Blann said in a prepared statement.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is operating all lifts except for the Aerial Tram, Sublette and Thunder quad which will be closed for the remainder of the day.

“Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has established standards and protocols for minimizing the risk of avalanche that are based on the current weather and snowpack conditions,” the resort said in its statement. “Jackson Hole Mountain Resort receives over 400 inches of snow annually and is dedicated to making the skiing and riding as safe as possible for our guests. Avalanche conditions change hour-by-hour and day-by-day. JHMR Ski Patrol continuously monitors elements of the weather and snowpack conditions 24 hours a day throughout the winter and uses this information to continually assess potential hazards.”

Join staff from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) for a FREE evening presentation on avalanche terrain. “Beyond the Basics” will help frame an understanding of why terrain selection skills are essential to safe travel in the backcountry. This presentation is geared towards people who have some previous avalanche education and are looking to expand on previous knowledge. A 1.5 hour presentation on avalanche terrain is by no means comprehensive and does not replace the need for a multi-day avalanche course.

On Sunday, January 3rd, a snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche on Scotch Bonnet Mountain near Lulu Pass. He was riding up a narrow slope bordered by trees when he triggered the slide. The slope was tracked up from previous riders. He was on a lower angled part of the slope, about halfway up, when it released. He was carried and buried 2 feet deep and pushed against trees. His partner located him quickly with a beacon, but it took 40 minutes and two others to help dig to fully extricate him. He was tangled in tree branches. The slide broke on a layer of facets 2 feet deep, was 100 feet wide and ran 1,000 feet slope distance. The steepest part of the slope, near the crown, was 35 degrees. A full report will be coming soon. Our condolences and sympathies go out to his family, friends and riding partner.

On Thursday, December 10th, in Hyalite Canyon a world renowned Canadian ice climber, Guy Lacelle, was killed in an avalanche. He and his partner had finished the climb Silken Falls and were hiking up a narrow drainage to a higher climb when two other climbers above them triggered a pocket of wind drifted snow that ran down the gully. His partner was off to the side, but Guy was hit and carried off the climb to his death.

Read the full report from the GNFAC: www.mtavalanche.com

Photos and video here: www.mtavalanche.com

*** INITIAL MEDIA REPORT ***

World-class ice climber Guy Lacelle died in an avalanche while ice climbing in Hyalite Canyon on Thursday morning.

bozemandailychronicle.com

published on Thursday, December 10, 2009 4:23 PM MST

By JODI HAUSEN, Bozeman Chronicle Staff Writer, and the Associated Press

World-class ice climber Guy Lacelle died in an avalanche while ice climbing in Hyalite Canyon on Thursday morning.

Lacelle was climbing in an area about four miles up from Grotto Falls, according to witnesses. The Canadian was in Bozeman for the Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival, which began today.

His death Thursday morning was confirmed by John Irvine, sports marketing manager for Arc’teryx, a company that makes ice climbing equipment and which sponsors Lacelle and the Bozeman Ice Festival. Irvine said he learned of Lacelle’s death from a festival organizer.

Irvine called Lacelle a “fanatical ice climber” and called his death is a “huge, huge loss.”

“He loves climbing and he loves sharing the sport with other people,” Irvine said. “That’s what his life was all about.”

Irvine says Lacelle was a foreman for a tree planting company in British Columbia during the summer and took the winters off to ice climb.

When: Wed, December 16, 7pm – 10pm

Where: Sheridan Opera House, Telluride

Come to the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride on December 16th for a social night and help support avalanche forecasting in the San Juan Mountains. Mountainfilm and Stone Brewery Company will supply the entrainment. The cost of the event is $15 and there will be a silent auction. All proceeds go to support local avalanche forecasting and education.

Some of the silent auction items include:

Season’s pass to Telluride Ski Resort

Sunshine Pass to Mountainfilm (allows full access to all films)

Black Diamond Bandit Avalalung packs

Osprey backpacks

Women’s Sierra Designs down jacket

Level 1 Avalanche Course with San Juan Outdoors (Jan or Feb dates)

We are extremely happy with our turnout and are very pleased with the amount of money we raised considering the weather.

The Friends of CAIC was created to support avalanche forecasting, education, and awareness throughout the State of Colorado. The money raised at the Benefit Bash helps us support our cause.

We want to send out our thanks to all of our Volunteers, Sponsors, Vendors, Breweries, and Guests. Without you, this would not be possible.