All articles tagged with #avalanche forecaster
Nick Burks, a 37-year-old avalanche forecaster and experienced backcountry skier, was killed in an avalanche while skiing in the Elkhorn Mountains in northeastern Oregon. The accident highlighted the dangers of backcountry skiing, emphasizing the stark contrast between resort skiing and backcountry skiing in terms of avalanche risk.
Experienced avalanche forecaster Nick Burks died in an avalanche he triggered while backcountry skiing in Oregon. Despite carrying avalanche safety equipment, including air bags and beacons, Burks was overtaken by the avalanche. His companion quickly located him using a transceiver, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. Burks had been a part of the professional avalanche-forecasting community for years and worked for the Wallowa Avalanche Center. The incident highlights the challenges faced by avalanche forecasters due to climate change and increasing backcountry activity.
Nick Burks, an experienced avalanche forecaster, died in an avalanche he triggered while skiing in eastern Oregon. His friend, who was skiing with him, was able to locate him quickly using a transceiver, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. Burks had been part of the professional avalanche community for years and worked as an avalanche forecaster for the Wallowa Avalanche Center. The job of avalanche forecasters has become more difficult due to climate change and the increasing number of backcountry visitors. This incident adds to the 11 avalanche-related deaths in the U.S. this year.