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Vernon  

Avalanche experts at Star

Independent avalanche experts will be helping SilverStar Mountain Resort investigate an avalanche that happened on the mountain Wednesday.

The Putnam Creek area, also known as the backside, is currently closed after the isothermal avalanche on a double black diamond run injured a man.

“Putnam Creek is presently closed. SilverStar has also closed some south/southwest facing terrain east of the gondola including the Alpine Meadows Chair,” said Chantelle Deacon, communications and sponsorship manager.

“The avalanche consultants, along with the SilverStar Patrol team, will be conducting a thorough investigation of Wednesday's incident, as well as assessing resort-wide snow conditions. The re-opening of any terrain will be subject to the results of this investigation. As always, the safety of our guests and staff remains our highest concern.”

Deacon said this is not the first avalanche the resort has experienced, but noted it is rare to have an avalanche in an inbounds area and this was the the first isothermal avalanche at the mountain.

An isothermal avalanche is when all layers of the snowpack are at the same temperature, typically at the freezing point, and often refers to a snowpack that is wet throughout its depth. This condition typically occurs in the spring or after many cycles of melting and freezing.

Deacon said in 1962 and woman was killed in an avalanche on the mountain, but did not have details of the incident.

Deacon said some areas of the frontside have also been closed while experts investigate the entire mountain.

“After the avalanche occurred yesterday, we had a very small avalanche occur in our frontside also on a black diamond run,” said Deacon adding no one was around when that avalanche happened.

“As a safety precaution we are having experts examine the whole mountain.”

Due to privacy concerns and respecting the family of the guest injured in the avalanche, SilverStar will not be releasing any further information regarding the guest.

The Comet Express, Des Schumann Summit Express Gondola, Silver Queen, Silverwoods Express, The Zone Carpet, Adventure Center carpet, Tube Town Carpet remain open - a total of 7 of 10 lifts open with access to 46 runs of skiing and riding.



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