Teen's fate sealed in slide's size

Hikers made wise choice to leave, then weather worsened

Katie Kerwin Mccrimmon, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 24, 2005 at midnight

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An avalanche beacon probably could not have saved Patrick Niedringhaus because the slide left him under so much snow.

The Colorado Springs 18-year-old and a 17-year-old buddy had turned back on a snowshoe ascent of Kelso Ridge leading to Grays and Torreys peaks, a pair of Fourteeners, near Bakerville on Thursday. Fierce winds had quickly whipped up dangerous snowdrifts that were primed to break free and trigger avalanches.

About 1 p.m., when the experienced mountaineers were descending from above timberline, an avalanche 100 yards long and 100 yards wide sent the men somersaulting down the slope. Niedringhaus' companion, who asked authorities not to be named, was only partially buried and was able to escape.

Niedringhaus ended up just 5 feet away, but a mound of snow 6 feet deep sealed his fate.

"The chances of being recovered from that much snow are very low," said Ethan Greene, director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. "Once you're buried under more than 3 or 4 feet of snow, your chances of getting dug out alive go down substantially."

Officials do not know whether the young men triggered the avalanche or if it was a naturally occurring slide.

But, the fact that Niedringhaus had made the prudent decision to leave the area when the weather turned foul made his death all the more tragic.

"They had started back. They could tell that things weren't looking good," said Betty Niedringhaus, Patrick's grandmother. "They didn't have beacons. But I don't think they would have saved them. It was such a big avalanche - the size of a football field.

"He was a terrific young man. We just wish that we could have taken the pain for him."

The only consolation for the family is that Niedringhaus died pursuing his passion. Since he was a little boy, he has always loved the mountains.

"He's always been very adventurous, always full steam ahead," Betty Niedringhaus said. "Patrick was an experienced climber. He loved the outdoors, loved snow skiing and loved camping in the snow.

Every Christmas, we would buy him more equipment. He was doing what he loved."

Niedringhaus was a senior at Air Academy High School and looked forward to attending the University of Utah next year to study meteorology.

Now, instead of celebrating Christmas, the family must plan a funeral service.

"It makes the holiday a whole lot different," said Halsted Morris, avalanche education specialist for the avalanche center. "Obviously, he didn't want to die on that day. You feel really sorry for the family. It's right before Christmas, and he's only 18."

Morris was on the scene at the trailhead Thursday about five miles below the accident site.

"These guys were just out there to have some good clean fun," Morris said. "They had decided that the conditions weren't good for them to be out there and had turned around."

A rescue dog was flown by helicopter as close as possible, then transported by snowmobile to the site. The dog quickly picked up Niedringhaus' scent, and searchers from the Alpine Rescue Team found him by 3:40 p.m., but it was too late to save him.

Morris wished the young men could have picked a day with better weather for their outing.

"We sometimes get really overconfident. We get very impatient sometimes. People want to go out and ski or climb something," Morris said. "They're not willing to wait until conditions are better or safer."

Services for Niedringhaus are planned for 4 p.m. Jan. 5 at Sunrise United Methodist Church, 2655 Briargate Blvd., in Colorado Springs.

Contributions can be sent to Alpine Rescue Team, P.O. Box 934, Evergreen, CO, 80437.

Avalanche safety measures

• Before venturing into the backcountry, always check avalanche and weather forecasts. High-wind warnings can be extremely dangerous. Wind can quickly build unstable snowfields.

• Always carry a shovel, an avalanche probe and beacon. And always travel in the backcountry with companions. The best chance of surviving an avalanche is to be rescued right away by people on the scene. Statistics show that if you are buried for more than 30 minutes, your chances of survival drop to 40%.

• Get training in proper usage of beacons and probes. Learn the best way to survive an avalanche and know how to rescue any companions.

• Be aware that summer routes up peaks are not always the best routes in the winter. Reassess your route as you go.Source: Ethan Greene, Director Of The Colorado Avalanche Information Center. For Further Information, Go To Avalanche.Org And Click On Colorado.

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