Skier Triggers Avalanche, Falls 500ft in New Hampshire Backcountry
TL/DR –
Dominic Torro, 30, fell 500 feet in an avalanche he triggered while skiing down a remote gully on Mount Washington, suffering a life-threatening lower-leg injury. He was stabilized at the scene by his friend and another skier, receiving directions from a backcountry paramedic over the phone, before being airlifted to a nearby hospital. Despite making prior assessments of the slope’s stability and being well-prepared with safety equipment, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center emphasized that even with precautions, it is impossible to fully eliminate the risk of avalanches.
Man Critically Injured in Mount Washington Avalanche
A man from New Hampshire suffered life-threatening injuries after triggering an avalanche on Mount Washington. Dominic Torro, 30, fell around 500 feet into a remote gully while skiing.
Torro sustained a severe lower-leg injury, as per a report by New Hampshire Fish and Game. After his friend dialed 911, a National Guard helicopter transported him to a hospital.
An amateur video by Torro’s friend captures how a large snow mass broke off, leading to the avalanche.
The Mount Washington Avalanche Center highlighted the incident as a stark reminder of the severe impact of even a small avalanche in technical terrain during early season conditions.
Torro’s friend, aided by another skier and a backcountry paramedic over phone, stabilized Torro’s condition. His injuries were exacerbated due to equipment failure – his binding did not release amidst the avalanche, resulting in an open fracture.
Torro was skiing in the “Airplane Gully” of the Great Gulf Wilderness at the time of the incident. According to FATMAP, skiers in this area face a steep drop off and “steep turns in a long granite corridor”.
The Avalanche Center warns that avalanche runout zones often have rocks, ice, and vegetation, leading to further injuries. This can sometimes make the fall more dangerous than the avalanche itself.
Torro and his friend were well prepared for the descent, with avalanche rescue equipment, medical supplies, and emergency communications tools. Yet, the incident reinforces that despite adequate preparation, the risk of an avalanche can never be fully eliminated.
The Mount Washington Avalanche Center issued a General Avalanche Information warning on the day of the accident, indicating possible isolated areas of unstable snow at middle and upper elevations.
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