{"id":34215,"date":"2023-05-02T22:19:05","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T04:19:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/skier-recounts-exacting-rescue-after-silverton-avalanche\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T02:17:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:17:02","slug":"skier-recounts-exacting-rescue-after-silverton-avalanche","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/skier-recounts-exacting-rescue-after-silverton-avalanche\/","title":{"rendered":"Skier recounts exacting rescue after Silverton avalanche"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Rescuers
Rescuers with Silverton Mountain Rescue transport Ryan McClure on the north face of King Solomon slope Friday afternoon after he suffered a compound fracture in an avalanche. (Courtesy of Silverton Medical Rescue)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

It was the fourth and final day of skiing for Connor Ryan, a professional skier, and conditions looked promising.<\/p>\n

He was working on shooting footage for a follow-up project to his film, \u201cSpirit of the Peaks,\u201d<\/a> on Friday with three other Silverton-based backcountry skiers. The group had climbed to the 13,222-foot summit King Solomon, and intended to ski the mountain\u2019s north face.<\/p>\n

Throughout the day, the skiers had noticed light snow on the surface and took it as a small assurance with respect to the risk of an avalanche.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were thinking we were just out for a fun day that wasn\u2019t overly technical,\u201d Ryan said.<\/p>\n

But as he began his descent down the 50-degree face, snow broke loose beneath him, toppling him from his feet, ripping the skis from his boots and carrying him several hundred feet. He came to rest atop a pile of debris, physically unhurt but mentally shaken.<\/p>\n

Ryan was able to move to a protected zone tucked out of the slide path. After some debate about radios, the group assessed the risk and decided that Silverton local Ryan McClure would ski the snow surface upon which the avalanche had already released and reunite Connor Ryan with his skis.<\/p>\n

Aware that the risk of an avalanche may have been higher than originally anticipated, McClure was careful to take precautions.<\/p>\n

As he started down the slope, the expert skier performed an advanced maneuver known as a \u201cski cut,\u201d <\/a>in which a skier traverses a slope toward a safe spot quickly and aggressively with the intention of testing its reactivity. If an avalanche is going to release, the skier generally has enough momentum and is on a trajectory to a safe spot such that they will escape the slide.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat dude knows how to do a ski cut in the \u2019Juans,\u201d Connor Ryan said.<\/p>\n

Connor Ryan said drone footage shot by Isaiah Branch-Boyle, one of the skiers in the group waiting on King Solomon\u2019s summit, shows the ski cut sent cracks shooting out 30 feet from McClure and released a deluge of snow from slopes above and adjacent to him.<\/p>\n

Typically, springtime can bring more predictable avalanche conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe snow just did not respond the way that snow typically responds in the San Juans in spring,\u201d Connor Ryan said.<\/p>\n

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center<\/a> had forecast a \u201cModerate,\u201d or level two of five, avalanche risk that day at the group\u2019s elevation. The primary risk was a wind slab created by drifting snow. Connor Ryan said cornices present on the summit indicated such conditions could have contributed to the accident, although the exact type of slide was not clear.<\/p>\n

The CAIC has not yet completed a report on the incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese were February kind of avalanches with the velocity that they had,\u201d Connor Ryan said. \u201cThe pockets that came out around Ryan (McClure) were not necessarily huge, but the velocity that the snow had was unprecedented for this time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a video taken by Connor Ryan and posted to Instagram, a voice can be heard over the radio: \u201cAvalanche! Avalanche! Avalanche!\u201d<\/p>\n

Moments later, a plume of snow comes hurling down the slide path before him.<\/p>\n

The slide occurred on a northeast-facing slope of the mountain and was reported to the CAIC <\/a>as a \u201cloose snow avalanche.\u201d<\/p>\n

The slide was classified as \u201cR1,\u201d meaning it was very small relative to the possible slide path. On the destructive scale, observers reported it was a \u201cD1.5,\u201d which is \u201crelatively harmless to people.\u201d In this case, the harm was significant.<\/p>\n

\"Loose-snow
Loose-snow avalanches occurred on northeast-facing terrain and were classified as being small relative to their slide path and relatively nondestructive. (Courtesy of Colorado Avalanche Information Center)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

When the snow had settled, McClure had slid about 1,600 feet but managed to unbury himself from the slide debris. His voice came over the radio and informed the group that he had a compound fracture of the femur.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said it with the composure of someone who\u2019s like, \u2018Ah well, I did lose my glove and my pole,\u2019\u201d Connor Ryan said.<\/p>\n

The fourth member of the group used a Garmin satellite communication device to send out an emergency signal as Branch-Boyle, still atop the summit, called San Juan Expeditions and Silverton Medical Rescue to initiate a rescue.<\/p>\n

Wary of lingering avalanche danger on the reactive slope above and around him, Connor Ryan used his ice ax, the only tool he had, to work his way about 1,000 feet down the icy debris to McClure. He managed to collect one of his own skis and one of McClure\u2019s on his way. The skis would be needed to construct the rescue sled Connor<\/a> Ryan keeps in his pack.<\/p>\n

When he got to McClure, Connor Ryan found his friend with a badly broken leg and losing blood.<\/p>\n

Connor Ryan used a rubber ski strap to tourniquet McClure\u2019s leg \u2013 an agonizing procedure exacerbated, as they would later find out, by two more fractures higher up on the femur. McClure screamed in agony, then looked Connor Ryan in the eye and thanked him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis guy is just on another level,\u201d Connor Ryan thought.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Silverton Medical Rescue was organizing a response with Durango Flight For Life.<\/p>\n

The fact that Branch-Boyle took the time to comprehensively communicate the extent of McClure\u2019s injuries to responders was critical, Connor Ryan said. Although the extra time spent might feel like a waste, the details provided over the phone enabled responders to show up fully prepared to save not only McClure\u2019s life, but also his leg.<\/p>\n

According to DeAnne Gallegos, spokeswoman for San Juan County, six rescuers were inserted by the Flight For Life helicopter and another four approached on snowmobiles. Three rescuers stayed aboard the helicopter and three more ran an operations base camp on the valley floor.<\/p>\n

Over the two hours that elapsed before rescuers arrived, Connor Ryan kept McClure warm and talking and fed him sugary snacks and electrolyte water to stave off hypothermia. The group used Connor Ryan\u2019s rescue sled to move McClure several hundred yards down the slope toward rescuers before the terrain made it too difficult to continue.<\/p>\n

Instead, the team used shovels to prepare a platform for the soon-to-be arriving rescue team, who would lower McClure to the valley floor.<\/p>\n

Throughout the rescue, Connor Ryan said, the goal changed from saving McClure\u2019s life to saving his leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought there was a good chance that maybe we could get him out of there alive by midway through the rescue, but at no point did I think he was going to keep that leg until Silverton Medical Rescue got there and started really working in that direction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"A
A total of 16 rescuers responded to Friday\u2019s incident on King Solomon east of Silverton. One person caught in an avalanche was flown to Durango by Flight For Life. (Courtesy of Silverton Medical Rescue)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

McClure was flown to Mercy Hospital and is now recovering in Denver.<\/p>\n

Looking back at the event, Connor Ryan said skiers should be scrupulous in their preparation for big days in the backcountry. First-aid kits, rescue sleds and the knowledge to use them are must-haves.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe CAIC does a tremendous job,\u201d he said of the avalanche forecasts. \u201cI think there\u2019s also no substitute for leaving space for understanding the nuance of these places.\u201d<\/p>\n

Risk is inherent to the sport, Connor Ryan stressed, and only diligent preparation can ready a skier for such situations. He added that he intends to further his rescue training this summer.<\/p>\n

Connor Ryan celebrated his 30th birthday on Sunday in the hospital with McClure, where the two rejoiced in vitality and the thought of skiing together in the future.<\/p>\n

In a statement made post-surgery through his partner, McClure expressed his overwhelming gratitude for the fast-acting ski partners, first responders and medical staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s obviously tender at the moment and the tears come easy,\u201d Connor Ryan said. \u201cBut also, he\u2019s incredibly, incredibly positive about the experience and just so grateful to be to be alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

rschafir@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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