A snowmobiler died in an avalanche March 12 in the Stanley Lake Creek drainage in the Southeastern Mountains, officials said.
Sawtooth avalanche center
Bystanders rushed to dig out a snowmobiler who had been killed in an avalanche near Idaho mountains, officials said.
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The snowmobiler had been riding up a slope Sunday, March 12, when they triggered an avalanche in the Stanley Lake Creek drainage of the Sawtooth Mountains, the Sawtooth Avalanche Center reported.
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The rider was buried in about 3 feet of snow, the center said.
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Three other snowmobilers dug the person out and performed CPR, but the snowmobiler died, the center said.
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At the time, avalanche danger was rated “considerable,” which can involve “thick, dense slabs of snow,” the center said in a Monday, March 13, Facebook post.
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“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the victim’s friends and family. The USFS Sawtooth Avalanche Center will release additional information as it becomes available,” the agency said.
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Stanley Lake Creek is near Stanley, about 135 miles northeast of Boise.
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What to know about avalanches
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Avalanches happen quickly and catch people by surprise. They can move between 60 and 80 mph and typically happen on slopes of 30-45 degrees, according to experts.
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Skiers, snowmobilers and hikers can set off an avalanche when a layer of snow collapses and starts to slide down the slope.
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In the U.S., avalanches are most common from December to April, but they can happen at any time if the conditions are right, National Geographic reported.
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At least 16 people in the U.S. have died in avalanches this season as of March 13, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
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People heading into snow should always check the local avalanche forecast at Avalanche.org, officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, and have an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel ready.
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“Emergency services are usually too far away from the scene of an avalanche, and time is important,” Simon Trautman, a national avalanche specialist, said. “A person trapped under the snow may not have more than 20 or 30 minutes. So, in a backcountry scenario, you are your own rescue party.”
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If an avalanche breaks out, it’s best to move diagonal to the avalanche to an edge, Trautman said.
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“Try to orient your feet downhill so that your lower body, not your head, takes most of the impact,” officials said. “You may also get into a tight ball as another way to protect your head.”
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