FATALITY ARTICLES

March 3, 1997, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WY

Yellowstone National Park officials report that Research Geologist, Roderick (Rick) A. Hutchinson has been killed in an avalanche in the Heart Lake area in southcentral Yellowstone National Park. A visiting seismic geologist, whose name is being withheld pending notification of relatives and who was also suspected to be caught in the avalanche, has not yet been found. Hutchinson and the visiting geologist travelled to Heart Lake patrol cabin over the weekend where they monitored thermal features in the area. The trail to Heart Lake is about 8 miles long, starting from the South Entrance Road a few miles south of Grant Village. Hutchinson had communicated by radio with park rangers at approximately 8 a.m. on Monday, March 3, arranging to meet rangers half-way between Heart Lake and the trailhead on Tuesday afternoon. When park rangers travelled to the area late Tuesday afternoon, they failed to meet up with Hutchinson and the visiting geologist. They observed several avalanches at the base of Factory Hill (near Mt. Sheridan), and continued on to the cabin, where they discovered the personal belongings of Hutchinson and his companion. The park rangers then returned to the avalanche site (around 9 p.m.) and observed ski tracks going in and out of the first avalanche, and entering but not exiting the second avalanche. By this time, the weather was deteriorating and the decision was made to continue a wider search at first light.

On Wednesday morning, the search was resumed. However, dangerous avalanche conditions prevented access to the site where the last ski tracks were observed. Experts were brought in to use explosives to help decrease the danger of additional avalanches. Four search dog teams were brought in to begin a search of the avalanche debris area. Probe teams began their work on early Wednesday afternoon. The search was halted at dark and continued again at first light on Thursday morning.

At 4:30 p.m., Thursday, searchers discovered a ski pole belonging to Hutchinson and shortly after, discovered his body. Rick had apparently been skiing westbound along the flank of Factory Hill. He was not headed for the trail, but was using his normal route up Witch Creek to visit a thermal feature. He was found in no more than 4 feet of snow by a probe line. Dogs were not in use at the time. The search for the visiting seismic geologist is continuing.

Rick Hutchinson began working for the National Park Service in Yellowstone as a Seasonal Interpretive Specialist in 1970. He received a Career-Conditional Appointment as a Geothermal Specialist in 1973 and was promoted to Geologist in 1976. He was known by scientists throughout the world for his deep familiarity with Yellowstone's geothermal resources, and was the author of many publications, reports, and papers on the park's unique geological wonders. His wife, Jennifer J. Whipple, is also an employee of the park.

Superintendent Michael Finley expressed his deep sorrow at Rick's death. Speaking on behalf of the entire Yellowstone staff, Finley stated, "For more than a quarter of a century, Rick Hutchinson has been a Yellowstone institution, one of those rare, authentic experts who can be counted on to help the many people, visitors and researchers alike, who come and go in a place like Yellowstone. It was almost as if he was a part of the park itself, a gentle presence that had always been here and would go on forever. Nobody loved Yellowstone more, or was more wholly devoted to embracing its spirit and caring for its wonders. Rick touched many lives here, and will not be forgotten."