Over the weekend, an avalanche north of Boise claimed the life of an Idaho man, the nation’s first avalanche fatality of the season.
At 12:21 p.m. on Sunday, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office reported that someone had been buried by an avalanche close to Wilson Creek Trail in the Anderson Creek region, west of Cascade.
The fatality was identified by the sheriff’s office as Kuna resident Jason Haines, 41.
According to a news statement from the sheriff’s office, Haines died at the site from his injuries after local snowmobilers assisted him in getting out of the snowfall.
The Avalanche Center for Payetteclaimed that Haines was one of two snowbike riders that caused the avalanche close to Lookout Peak.
According to the center, Haines was buried deeply after being carried into a terrain trap, despite the slide being described as being quite mild. He was rescued using an avalanche beacon, but he did not make it out alive.
Additional information from the scene was provided by an observation report that a member of the public sent to the avalanche center.
The observer said it appeared that the two snow bikers dropped in then looped back and tried to ride back up when the slab broke. According to the observer, one rider was able to stay afloat on the bike while the other was knocked down, fell in headfirst, and was buried upside down.
The observer stated in the report, “I have witnessed this spot slide several times, but nothing this severe.”
Adams County Sheriff Ryan Zollman expressed gratitude to the Valley County Sheriff’s Office for their early response and search and rescue assistance. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during their time of grief.
Haines death was thefirst avalanche deathin the United States for the 2024-2025 winter season, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which keeps a national record of avalanche-related deaths, confirmed to the Idaho Statesman.
Three of the 16 avalanche deaths the center documented last season occurred in Idaho.
The Idaho Statesman, 2024. Go to www.visidahostatesman.com. Tribune Content Agency, LLC is the distributor.
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