Un-Roped Crevasse Fall

Incident

Group Activity

skiing

Number Involved

2

Snow Depth Trigger Point

shallow

Other Activity Description

Crevasse Fall

A team of 2 traveling on the Athabasca Glacier. Group was above the first icefall, on the south end of the middle bench (skiers right). The pair was traveling close together, un-roped when the leader fell into a weakly bridged crevasse, falling 4-6m impacting a ledge at a pinch point. Here he was able to secure himself using an ice screw. Partner notified Parks Visitor Safety in Jasper using a SPOT device. On-scene, specialists were able to easily make contact with patient and using a drop-loop system, were able to quickly extract the patient, package and sling him to waiting EMS. Patient was found with a severe lower leg injury and mildly hypothermic.