BANFF WARDEN SERVICE AVALANCHE RESCUE REPORT DATE. . . 13th.Jnlv l955. . . TIME. .6.39 P.MLOCATION. N-Wki ?89~299 0 0 9 Names of victims and other members of party, with information regarding their experience} .Richard.Ballis,. .Miles.marble). . .Fred Ballard . . . . .-. . James Ballis, David Chasinl Jerry Clattenburg William Wise Luther Seddon) WoodfieldS?r'vi?feao. I William Watts (All Dead} Smith Summary of events leading up to accident: Departure Point . .mpraipe.Lake lodge . . . . . . . . . . . Route and Objective of Party.UP 509th facetof to Summit, the ordinary routeEyewitnesses account of accident if available; otherwise, observersY deductions based on tracks and any other evidence. Important points location of skis in relation to release point of slide; how was slide released: Party crossed .at. ,on, a, south, syn, slope, ,ll, r,op.ed .t 0g ether wi t.h ol/y". x? 3 man iolloa rope: . wet 8} id e. came ?dogma from above carrying the climbers. It was a sun slideSummary of rescue operations, times and names: Time of Accident.. .QPRiqx(ii) Time Report of Accident Received and from whomSmith, avalanche I I survivors. I 0 Time first party dispatched Leader, Number in party. . 7310, 33.112. .Leader .6 cti'v'g Warden J?.S.cnau?erte., Bro. Sutton, Acting Total 3. (iv) Time first party arrived at scene of accident . nan. Time follow-up party dispatched. .. No. in party. .Tame.left..9e4i 00 (vi) Time follow?up party arrived at scene of accident .la-ZQ p. 2 5 (vii) Time,and location of victims when found. Injuries sus? tainedi .h.victims.found.at l1.3Q 9-mocasualties found at ll.#5 p.m. Head injuries 100' area. Two found dead 2007 above at 3.A.M. July 12Cause of death or outcome otherwise . . . . . . . . . . . . ?Slide?arriedyictims?over talus and caused.injuries. I Exposure 8 hours caused high death toll(ix) Time operation was concluded Bodies packed. out. by h0 Mr Finished at 1.30 p. m. 12th July,1955. 6. Weather and avalanche hazard background Wind, temperature, and snow data; restrictions in force; type of slide and extent. ,Mild weather duringnday made hagard high, wet sun slides on- .steep.terrain makes crossing these forbidden during p.m. No 1 information was asked from Warden Serv1ce. Small wet sun slide 600? long 20' wideTerrain data, including sketches, maps and diagrams and pictures. The enougfield was funnelled to a narrow neck of less steep terrain, making this a shot gun effect. This made it very hatardpus and this plus the entire overload from the precipitous ummit made the crossing area most dangerous. A rock and snow route to the left was safe to all climbers. The snow field was hazardous to any climber at that time of day. 8. Recommendations and conclusionsVery poor leadership shown. 2. Poor equipment used. 3. No mountaineering ability shownHad this group requested permission and proper information from the Warden Service, they would not have been allowed this slope. B. Pigtaway, . Asst. Chief Park sf rden. 9.15 R.M., July 12, lg55 OF women on net. mess 1e sesame Lei-{E JULY 11, 1955 Partyof 24 boys, around 16 years of age, under leadership of O. B. Dickerson and Mr. E. H. Geser, members of Wilderness Camp of Philadelphia, camped at Public Camp Ground, ?craine Lake. 5 Eighteen of party climbing face of Mt. Temple from point just below Sentinel ?ass on moraine Lake Valley side. Did not register fer climb, or ask advice or information. all inexperienced in seek climbing. Seven of party, including the two leaders, decided climb too difficult, so waited at base for remaining eleven. Eleven boys, roped at 5 foot intervals, proceeded with climb, reaching approximately 9,000 foot elevation. at this point it was decided that route was too dangerous, and party started return. Avalanche from above caught party at this point, sweeping them down the face. lhis occurred at approx~ imitely h.00 p.m. Lead boy and tail boy on rope extricated SalveSe Seven of crew who did not make climb attenpted rescue, but were unequipped. News of accident was then sent to Eanager of ?oraine Lake Chalet, who in turn notified Mr. Pitt, Eenager of Lake Louise Chalet. at. Fitt passed infor- mation on to Warden Service and organised advance party. including doctor, volunteers and 2 Acting eardens. This party left ?oraine Lake Ghalet between 6.00 and p.n. Keanwhile narden Service organized rescue party from Banff and proceeded to scene, arriving at moraine Lake Chalet at approximately 9.30. Left Chalet enroute to scene of accident at 9.40 n.e. First survivor recovered by rescue part? arrived at Roraine Lake Chalet at 12:30 aamo a doctor, name unknown, a guest at Chalet,and a nurse, wife of the doctor, tended to the first survivors, two of shoe brought news of the accident. The second rescued survivor brought to Chalet at astronamately e.30 a.n. attended by Br. ?aciensie of Banff. Nudd's ambulance of Banff, and Cadet damp Ambulance were standing by all night at Chalet. f. 0G6e? ?2n R.C.0. in charge of ?.C.?.Folice detachment, Banff, was notified of ?eaths occurring, at approximately 9.33 and arrived at Mcraine Lake Chalet at approximately 11.30 p.m. t5 take charge. Part of rescue party returned with second rescued survivcr as approximately 4.30 to report 5 known dead and 2 missing, presumed dead. Herses and saddlery sent out from Banff at 8 a.m. t0 bring in fatalitieS. Rescue party continuing probing far two missing climbars. ?esaage received from Lake Louise ?istrict Warden that leaders 0f greup were in ahock and unable to undertake bringing in remainder of ?ildernesa Camp party frem Moraine Lake Campgruund $0 Banff. Acting garden Schauerte will undertake this responsibility. Attache? is a list of indivi?uals involved in this acci?ent. G. Ashley; Shief Park warden Mt. Temple, Looking north. Red line indicates route of rescue party denotes bodies Avalanche tip,looking Valley of The Ten Peaks towards summit elev.9000' denotes bo ies Temple Looking North__ Mt. Temple looking North Valley of Ten Peaks, Mt. Temple looking north Looking South . Line indicates route of rescue party. Looking towards summit. Tip of avalanche, Elevation 9000'. denotes.bodies. 1x1 Looking towards summit. In Slidepath looking toward summit, elev.9000'. denotes wounded and bodies of victims. Dotted line the route determined by rescue party from evidence garnered. Avalanche perimeter shown by dotted line. Size-Small, Type -wet slide, slow moving, powerful, moved faster on steep rock face, slowed down on less steep terrain at tip, where most bodies fOund. Avalance tip looking toward the summit, elev.9000'. denotes bodies and injured. - -'denotes route determined by rescue party. Slide about 20' wide,500' long. Avalanche perimeter shown by dotted line. SNOW TALUS ENROUTE, 8000' Looking at Valley of Ten Peaks from avalanche area. Elev. 9000'. Base camp of climbers in middle foreground. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH MT. TEMPLE Mt. Temple, Looking North. Red Line indicates rouusof rescue party. Black line denotes perimeter of avalanche. denotes bodies. Bottom denotes base camp site. Picture taken one week after accident. 011-1915}; 18) 6 Valley of Ten Peaks looking South Larche Valley, to Temple - enrout. Valley of Ten Peaks from tip of avalanche looking South. Moraine Lake v47 . . . . Looking at Valley of Ten Peaks from avalanche area. Elev. 9000'. Base camp of climbers in middle fereground. Slidepath looking toward summit, Elev.9000'. denotes wounded and bodies of victims. X, Clattenburg. Dotted line the route determined by rescue party from evidence garnered. Avalanche perimeter is shown by dotted line. Size - Small Type - Wet slide, Slow movin powerful, moved faster on steep rock face, slowed down on less steep terrain at tip where most bodies were found. Avalanche tip, looking toward the summit. Elev. 9,000' deggtes bodies and injured. denotes.the route determined by rescue party. Slide about 20? wide, 500' long. Avalanche perimeter shown by dotted line. Size - small. Type - Wet slide, slow moving, powerful, moved faster on steep rock face and slowed down on less steep terrain at tip where most bodies were found. mmozqg?>? mo mHa 20mm m?mm 25 mo wmqqap B4 oszooq mgomzm magi?. 302m K: Snowfield enroute looking toward Summit. Elev. 8000' Snowfi?ld enroute Elev.8000' Tip of Avalanche looking toward summit. Elev. 9000' deontes bodies Tip of Avalanche .looking toward vsummit. Elev.9000' denotes bodies and injured. - 2' denotes the route determined by rescue party. Avalanche peri- meter shown.