Where have all the avalanches gone?
by Steve Conger
First published in the Avalanche Review vol16no5 April 1998
As long as there has been snowfall on the mountains there have been avalanches. This has been held a truth self-evident and proven countless times as people ventured into snow covered mountainous terrain. Seven years ago [1991] someone made the statement to me that “there was no avalanche problem in Idaho”. Idaho is mostly mountains, 80 ranges in all. The average elevation is 5,000 feet. At the turn of the century there were 162,000 residents in Idaho. By 1985 the population topped 1 million, equal to the Salt Lake – Ogden metropolitan area at the time (a six fold growth). It only takes adding people to snow covered mountains to develop an avalanche problem. It is clear the deadly combination has the potential to exist in the “Gem of the Mountains”.
In the first 66 years following territorial recognition, there were 123 avalanche fatalities spread over 24 winters. In the second half of Idaho’s history there have been only 38 deaths spread over 20 winters [through spring 1998]. Where have all the avalanches gone?
What could be the cause of this pattern? What has changed in the avalanche hazard triangle? Is it the terrain or vegetation, population, climate? Which were naturals and which were triggered? Was it poor land use? Did they fail to recognize the danger? What can we learn from them?
The initial stages of research included many library basements and microfiche machines, searching for unknown events and tracking down accounts and references. Cross correlating accounts proved important. A historical society photo with description and date turned out not to relate to the accident but another entirely new one. I have visited many of the avalanche locations. To validate each event, I have attempted to place a name to each victim.
An interesting side story is how news of events traveled. This is evident in the accounts in Alaska newspapers of events in Idaho mining towns uncovered by Doug Fesler in his research. I am indebted to him for sharing these with me.
The numbers and the questions they raise drive the need for further data gathering. However it is the stories which have become unforgettable.