[Minnesota Flats]

From the avalanche center: "LIONHEAD AVALANCHE FATALITY

A 19 year old man from Minnesota was killed in an avalanche Thursday in the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone. The avalanche released above the party as they broke trail through 12 inches of new snow that fell Tuesday and Wednesday night. The victim was the fourth person crossing the slope in a group of eight. He was struck by the avalanche as he moved onto the slope from behind an island of trees. The avalanche carried him 30 feet downslope and buried him under 3 feet snow. The sixth rider in the group was also caught in the avalanche and was partially buried but was able to self-extract from the debris. Luckily, the fifth rider was protected by the island of trees and was not caught. The victim was located near his partially buried sled by members of his party using a probe pole. He was recovered unconscious and not breathing in 5 – 10 minutes. All attempts to resuscitate him where unsuccessful. Our deepest sympathies go out to the young mans friends and family."

Does anybody know who it was, or home town? possible memorial? Very sad.

 

[spxse]

What a drag, 19 yrs old.

Just out to have fun, my prayers go out to the family and the 19 yr old.

 

[-dw-]

Hes my good buddies cousin. I feel I can't mention his name. He had alot of family and friends out there with him.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

dwk, I understand your decision, but I did find the story on the Mpls Star-Trib site.

Last update: December 30, 2006 – 11:39 AM

Minnesotan killed in Montana avalanche
A 19-year-old Avon man was buried while snowmobiling on Lionhead Mountain.

Associated Press


WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. — A Minnesota snowmobiler died after an avalanche near here buried him, Gallatin County authorities said.
Joshua Scepaniak, 19, of Avon, Minn., was caught in the avalanche Thursday on Lionhead Mountain and died of asphyxia, Coroner Duncan MacNab said. Companions uncovered Scepaniak after he was beneath several feet of snow for about 5 minutes.

The fatality was the second avalanche death in Montana this winter, said Ron Johnson of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center.

Scepaniak was traveling across a ravine with seven other snowmobilers when the avalanche struck him at about 1:30 p.m., Gallatin County Sheriff Jim Cashell said. Scepaniak and his snowmobile rolled about 100 yards down the ravine's slope.

Another snowmobiler also was caught in the avalanche, but was not buried.

West Yellowstone search-and-rescue workers who reached the scene nearly two hours after receiving a call found people still administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to Scepaniak.

Earlier this month, an avalanche near Cooke City took the life of a North Dakota snowmobiler.

The Miller Carlin Brenny Funeral Home in Albany, Minn., is handling Scepaniak's burial.

 

[INOR]

StarTribune article on it. They released his name. Sad news.

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/906632.html

 

[snopro734]

My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Be careful out there ppl... this could be anyone of us.

 

[Trucker]

Its really sad that someone so young gets killed like that. I don t know him persoanlly but some of his family is really close with my wifes family.

 

[silverram323]

That stuff makes me nervous, 5 others and I will be there in 11 days.


My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.