Accident Report: Phantom Creek

April 12th, 2025

*Warning: This page contains photos of a deformed lower leg.

Background

We were near the end of Day 3 on our wonderful Crystal Loop trip when disaster suddenly stuck. The tone of the trip changed dramatically, so I decided it was best to end that TR and document details of the incident separately here. Why do this at all? My intention is not to share lessons about prevention, like one might glean from an avalanche accident report. Instead, I want to use this as a personal record of what happened in the subsequent hours. If a reader can learn anything, it will be lessons about backcountry patient care, consideration of evac options, SAR capabilities, and medical system logistics. 

Of course it is emotional for me to write these details, but I believe there it is important. consent