Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — The annual World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb has been called off because of safety concerns caused by an unstable snowpack.
On Tuesday, two wet avalanches swept down the face of Snow King Mountain where the 40th hill climb was scheduled for March 26-29.
The warm weather, slides and a snowpack that is wet and lacking cohesion throughout its depth all factored into the decision to cancel the event, said Dale Deiter, Jackson District ranger for the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
"It was obviously not an easy decision to come to," Deiter said. "Even more than the snow depths the concern is that the ground is not frozen. Then there's also a safety factor."
Deiter was referring to the avalanches on Tuesday. There were no injuries because of the slides, though both were triggered by people, according to Snow King officials.
The charity hill climb event attracts around 10,000 fans and 300 competitors, according to organizers.
Its cancellation will be "incredibly impactful" to the local tourism economy and cost Jackson Hole businesses millions of dollars, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Golightly.
"I can't overemphasize how important it is to our tourism economy to have this event," Golightly told the Jackson Hole News & Guide (http://bit.ly/1H1MEKA). "Hotels and restaurants are definitely going to feel it in a significant way."
The last time the hill climb was cancelled was 1981, a year the snowpack had dwindled to half the average by mid-March and ski areas in Jackson Hole had to close early.
Wet avalanches have been releasing throughout the region in recent days, Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center forecaster Jim Springer said.
"The problem is it's not freezing much and it's warm," Springer said. "Usually if it's a clear night you get pretty good freezing, and this year not only on cloudy nights but on clear nights it's staying warm."
___
Information from: Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide, http://www.jhnewsandguide.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
