The steep bowl at Tuckerman Ravine on New Hampshire's Mount Washington has long made it a favorite spot for expert skiers and snowboarders who are seeking adventure beyond the comparative safety of the state's ski areas. But hard and icy conditions on Saturday turned the bowl deadly, reports the AP. Madison Saltsburg, 20, died after falling about 600 vertical feet down the ravine in the afternoon, according to the US Forest Service. Two other skiers suffered serious injuries after falling and hitting rocks and ice. There were also a number of other falls witnessed throughout the day that didn't result in serious injuries, the service said.
The accidents prompted search efforts that continued for hours in the dark as teams worked to rescue the injured skiers and recover Saltsburg's body from the mountain. Heavy, wet snow started to fall Saturday night and winds began to pick up, forcing the rescuers to battle on through worsening conditions. "The snow rangers and emergency personnel were up there late last night. They're exhausted," said Forest Service spokesperson Colleen Mainville. Tuckerman Ravine is particularly popular in the spring, when the sun begins to soften the snow. On some days, hundreds of skiers and snowboarders make the 3-mile hike to the ravine, resulting in a festive atmosphere. From there, it can take another hour to kick boot steps in the wall to get to the top.
But risks—including open crevasses, avalanches, and rocks—have resulted in several deaths over the years. The Forest Service said Saltsburg and her skiing companion encountered hard and icy snow surfaces due to cold temperatures and a lack of recent snowfall. There were also open crevasse holes on the mountain, the service said, and conditions were unforgiving. Forest Service rangers and a team from the Mount Washington Avalanche Center also responded to two other skiers who suffered severe injuries that weren't life-threatening, Mainville said. At 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is the tallest peak in the Northeast and is notorious for its fickle weather and as the site of frequent rescues.
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