Second Recreation Fatality In Young Season
BY ERIC VALENTINE
The “perfect storm” of avalanche precursors resulted in the death of a snowmobiler last week north of Ketchum. The tragedy marks the second recreation-related fatality in the Valley’s still-young winter sports season.
On opening day in Sun Valley, a Boise man who reportedly clipped skis with another skier was killed after colliding with a snowblower on Bald Mountain. Then, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Blaine County Emergency Communications received a report of an avalanche with snowmobilers possibly buried in the Baker Creek area, approximately 20 miles north of Ketchum.
Blaine County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Sun Valley Fire Department, Ketchum Fire Department, Ketchum Ambulance, Wood River Fire and Rescue and Sun Valley Heli-Ski were all dispatched to the scene, but by the time they had arrived, Kirk Douglas Rongen, of Jerome, was dead. He was 50.
“It was a fourth-party report, so we responded with a medic and a monitor and the assets to perform a rescue, but it was too late,” explained Taan Robrahn, Sun Valley fire chief.
Robrahn said Rongen was snowmobiling with another person who survived the avalanche and came across a guided party. Guides in that party were able to message their headquarters, who then contacted emergency dispatch.
“It’s such a remote area,” Robrahn observed.
Robrahn said the Sawtooth Avalanche Center conducted an investigation. The center could not be reached for comment before press deadline Tuesday. However, according to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were able to determine that two people were riding snowmobiles in the area of the trailhead at the end of Baker Creek Road when the slide occurred. After the slide, one of the riders began looking for the second rider. Rongen was located by his transponder, but was unable to be revived and passed away at the scene. Initial reports indicate that a slab avalanche failed on a wind-loaded south/southwestern slope near 9,000 feet. Avalanche conditions for this zone were rated as considerable that day. The Sawtooth Avalanche Center publishes daily forecasts at sawtoothavalanche.com.
“A slope of 30 degrees is what’s considered a dangerous pitch,” Robrahn said. “When there are early snows, we get layers. It’s like dominos. The layers on the bottom can’t always hold the layer on top.”
Robrahn said Sun Valley Fire Department will go out to the scene this week to conduct its own investigation.“From our perspective, we need to get out there and observe the terrain and the access points. We always want to improve anything we can about our response and better understand the risks,” Robrahn said.
Human-Triggered Avalanches
Past 30 Days
Source: Sawtooth Avalanche Center
12/22/2019: Sawtooth and W Smoky Mtns – Snowslide Creek – Remotely triggered by ski check on lower angled slope above fracture.
12/28/2019: Galena Summit & E Mtns – Galena Summit – Roadcut just up from lower Cross parking apparently triggered by skiers.
12/29/2019: Galena Summit & E Mtns – Salmon Headwaters – Remotely triggered from 30 feet away by snowmobiler.
1/1/2020: Soldier & WRV – Carbonate – Hiker triggered from below. Wind-loaded terrain.
1/2/2020: Soldier & WRV – Vorberg Gulch – Snowboarder trigger from the side.
1/3/2020: Soldier & WRV – Couch Summit – Snowmobiler triggered slab while sidehilling above road.
1/15/2020: Galena Summit & E Mtns – Baker Creek – Snowmobiler triggered slab from low on slope.