Troopers say search unlikely today for missing Conoco Alaska employee

Anchorage Daily News ^ | February 14th, 2010 | KYLE HOPKINS and JAMES HALPIN

[Species8472]

Poor weather will prevent state troopers from searching today for a Conoco Phillips Alaska employee missing in the avalanche that killed company president Jim Bowles on Saturday, a spokeswoman for the Alaska State Troopers says.

The avalanche that killed Bowles occurred in the Grandview area wilderness between Girdwood and Seward on the Kenai Peninsula.

Bowles was with a group of about 12 snowmachiners when the avalanche roared down a slope. His body was recovered before nightfall, while the second rider also caught in the slide, Alan Gage, was missing and presumed killed, troopers said.

Bowles has headed Conoco Phillips Alaska since November 2004 and oversaw roughly 900 employees in the state, said spokeswoman Natalie Lowman.

"He was a great leader for our company. ... Our deepest sympathies go out to his family," she said.

[Species8472]

Recent heavy snows and whipping winds are creating substantial danger that is only expected to get worse in coming days as a new storm moves through, Skustad said. The four feet of new snow was measured in eight days at Center Ridge in the Turnagain Pass area, while winds gusted to 86 mph midweek

[Eye of Unk]

We have had pretty rotten base conditions for new snowfall here. The blame is usually found to be from whats called “high markers” snowmachiners riding the ridges and setting off avalanches.

[Smokin' Joe]

Prayers up for the family.

[catfish1957]

Prayers to the family. Risky hobbys will do that.

[Abathar]

Prayers for his family, sounds like he was a decent guy.

I bet you if this was posted over at the DUmp they would cheer that Mother Gaia brought about his doom or some such nonsense.

[pesto]

I read the comments at CNN. Truly heartless people in the world. I hope his family never sees the comments.

[Abathar]

I know it. They are sitting at their computers being powered by his industry while their homes are being heated and cars running on it as well.

Hypocritical b*stards all.

[proud_yank]

This is terrible news. I’ve heard him present before, and he seems like a good guy. Heard that from Conoco folks too.

The other slide mentioned in the article is not far from me. Not a good snow year.

[ASOC]

DOn’t forget the high temps, got up just under 40 on Friday, with sun breaks.

THe area is noted for this kind of danger. At least the group was prepared to self-rescue (It would seem from the article).

We didn’t see any about this on the local news.... HUmmmm

[Species8472]

I read the comments at CNN

Its amazing to me that such sick and twisted people exist.

[Species8472]

First “bluebird” day after weeks of snow, rain and crappy weather. I’m surprised that there wasn’t more of this yesterday.

[Tax-chick]

Sympathies to his family. Winter sports can be very dangerous.

[Krankor]

I wonder if this was a company outing? If so, lawsuits coming.

[Cobra64]

Wait...

"Palin's Fault!!"

[Cobra64]

I read the comments at CNN. Truly heartless people in the world. I hope his family never sees the comments.

Huh? What comments? Do you have a link?

[pesto]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/02/14/alaska.avalanche.deaths/index.html?iref=allsearch

I’ve never posted a link, so I hope this works..

[buccaneer81]

I bet you if this was posted over at the DUmp they would cheer that Mother Gaia brought about his doom or some such nonsense.

It was, and they did...with gusto.

[freekitty]

RIP

[Sir_Ed]

Wow, I used to live near there, near Moose Pass, on the banks of Kenai Lake.

I was a forest ranger and I saw many an avalanche set off (with mortars) to clear them out.

Once I saw an avalanche they set off that was so big it covered the road to Trail Lake 10’ thick.

That was so cool to watch...yet they’re so deadly.

Sad about this man.

Ed

[thackney]

Thanks, I had not seen the info.

Sad news indeed.