Jordan Williams, 04-18-09
Two die in snow-sport accidents in mountains near Valdez
THOMPSON PASS: Snowmachiner, skier die in separate accidents.
By MEGAN HOLLAND, mholland@adn.com
Published: April 18th, 2009
Two people are dead and several others injured after a deadly couple of days in
the mountains near Valdez.
One snowmachiner died after triggering an avalanche Saturday, while a skier died
after going off a cliff Friday, according to Alaska State Troopers and the Valdez
Fire Department.
Snowmachiner Jordan Williams, 27, of Anchorage, died after being buried under more
than 10 feet of snow by the avalanche at Thompson Pass.
Skier Herve Mazieres, 32, of France died Friday six miles in from Mile 29 of the
Richardson Highway, troopers said.
Other accidents over the past few days in Thompson Pass included a snowmachiner
who fell 50 feet into a crevasse, a backcountry ski guide who broke his neck skiing
away from a separate avalanche, and several mishaps that left people with broken
bones, according to Valdez Fire Department chief George Keeney.
The snowmachiner who fell into the crevasse was recovered and brought to a local
hospital, but not injured, Keeney said.
Williams was snowmachining near where the Valdez Mountain Man Hill Climb race was
taking place when the avalanche happened Saturday around 12:45 p.m., according to
trooper spokeswoman Beth Ipsen. Williams was not part of the snowmachine competition.
Williams was with his 11-year-old nephew, but left him at the bottom of the gully
while he went to highmark closer to the ridge.
Reports vary on what the 11-year-old did after the avalanche started. According
to the troopers, Williams yelled at his nephew, who had his own snowmachine, to
get out of the area. The nephew made it to safety.
According to the fire department rescuers, though, the boy was on foot and tried
to run to help his uncle.
With so many people in the area, rescuers were able to begin the search for Williams
immediately, Keeney said. Williams did not have a beacon, but searchers probed and
found his snowmachine fairly quickly, Ipsen said.
However, even with the quick action, Williams was dead by the time rescuers got
to him. Keeney said he was under his snowmachine and his body had obvious signs
of trauma, which may indicate he died in the fall and not in the burial.
"The avalanche danger this time of year can be real nasty," Keeney said.
Mazieres died after skiing off a steep embankment, rolling and striking rocks Friday
at around 12:45 p.m., troopers said. He was a client of a heli-ski company. He apparently
had veered off course. He was properly equipped with safety gear but still fell
a significant distance, Keeney said.
Find Megan Holland online at adn.com/contact/mholland or call 257-4343.