Guy Lacelle Killed in Avalanche

News Link: Canadian ice climber Guy Lacelle died Thursday in an avalanche in Hyalite Canyon, Montana, while climbing a snow gully between climbs. Lacelle and a partner were participating in the Ice Breaker competition of the Bozeman Ice Festival, in which climbers attempt to complete the maximum number of pitches. A small slide caught Lacelle and carried him over a cliff. His partner was not caught in the avalanche.

Lacelle, 54, was famous for his ice climbing exploits, particularly free-solo ascents of extraordinarily difficult and long climbs such as La Pomme d’Or in Quebec and a half-day link-up of Terminator, Sea of Vapors, and Replicant above Canmore, Alberta. Lacelle, who lived in British Columbia, was married.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle has published a good article about Lacelle’s death. You can read an interview with the climber from 2008 and see a number of photos at Alpinist.com.

Petzl Crew’s blog also has a good story here.

Doug Chabot of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center investigates the avalanche that killed Guy Lacelle. Guy was in a steep gully on non-technical terrain above the climb Silken Falls (120m) when a party above triggered a wind loaded pocket. He was swept approximately 1,000 feet.

Date of Accident: December 10, 2009

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