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News & ArtsSunday, February 19, 2012
Wilderness Three Skiers and One Snowboarder Died in Avalanches Today
Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Sun, Feb 19, 2012 at 7:39 PM
Avalanches less than an hour apart claimed four lives at two separate resorts Sunday — one burying three skiers at Stevens Pass ski resort and another sweeping a snowboarder off a cliff near The Summit at Snoqualmie.
They were in out-of-bounds areas, but they are reported to be experienced skiers who had avalanche gear. Times reporter Brian M. Rosenthal is tweeting reports from Stevens Pass. His latest:
The Bull's Tooth, the bar at Stevens Pass, is full of men with swollen eyes and trembling faces. "We're shocked," said Matt Wainhouse, 23.
1
Here's what supposed to happen with a properly equipped boarder:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7…
2
From ESPN West: One of the skiiers was the Stevens Pass Marketing Director, Chris Rudolph. Another was Freeskiing World Tour head judge Jim Jack.
http://espn.go.com/espnw/7593035/avalanc…
http://espn.go.com/espnw/7593035/avalanc…
3
Not all "out of bounds" areas are created equal; some are forbidden, by ski area rules or even law. Such is the case where the snowboarder was. In the case of the massive slide at Stevens Pass, no explicit rules were broken. I was skiing at Alpental today. The snowpack is very misleading: at lower angle slopes it seems very stable but obviously this isn't the case for loaded steeps. The device credited with saving the one female skier's life is another topic i'm sure will make some waves as this story goes around.
4
I guess it just goes to show you that no matter how experienced an outdoorsman you think you are, Mother Nature is always in charge.
5
Rest in peace, and enjoy mad freshez in the sky.
Luckily most of the people were saved
Always make sure to check current conditions and remember how the snowpack has built up over the season
http://www.nwac.us/
Luckily most of the people were saved
Always make sure to check current conditions and remember how the snowpack has built up over the season
http://www.nwac.us/
6
Oh Dear, I knew Chris professionally. He was the guy behind the installation of the EV charging stations up there. A very nice young man with a lot of vision and drive. What a pity.
8
And one diver in Elliot Bay too... Some of my friends helped with the body recovery this evening.
There are great avalanche awareness classes available if skiing/riding out of bounds is your thing. There is also some great diving instruction tailored for mitigating the risks inherent in our local conditions. Some sports are risky, please do your best to stack the odds in your favor.
There are great avalanche awareness classes available if skiing/riding out of bounds is your thing. There is also some great diving instruction tailored for mitigating the risks inherent in our local conditions. Some sports are risky, please do your best to stack the odds in your favor.
9
take a look at the avalanche chute on google earth. it runs nearly from the top of cowboy mtn. down to 2 at tunnel creek (the switchback curve before the haul to the pass). the snow from the slide made it just onto the road.
tragic. ride safe everyone.
tragic. ride safe everyone.
10
How awful for parents and other family to know that if these skiers had heeded the avalanche warnings, they'd be alive now.
11
@10: read the account. they believed they were heeding the avalanche warnings. these were experts. they followed every precaution they could, but the mountain was bigger than their expertise today. even the skier with the avylung barely survived.
12
I read the accounts. They didn't follow the precaution of not skiing during an avalanche warning.
14
@12 actually they were all wearing transceivers and accounts seem to indicate that they were taking precautions. The analogy I'd use is they were riding motorcycles, but they were well trained and wearing helmets and leathers. Nothing is without risk but these folks were clearly mitigating that risk as well as they could and they were skiing in a group which was key for the rescue effort.
15
What @12 said.
God, we used to lose about 20 skiers, boarders and snowmobilers between Kaslo and New Denver in BC every year. Most of those ignored earnings and had no safety equipment.
Darwin at work.
God, we used to lose about 20 skiers, boarders and snowmobilers between Kaslo and New Denver in BC every year. Most of those ignored earnings and had no safety equipment.
Darwin at work.
17
Stevens backside is so fun, i hope I never get into a situation like this... Maybe Ill stick with Mt. Baker, not that it is really safer or anything
19
Wait, did they do anything illegal? Oh, then why skewer them after death?
You can draw a lesson to stay on the groomed slopes and/or carry an airbag on you. But even if these gentlemen died doing something stupid, they had the right to make the choices they made. They harmed no one else with their actions. So quit acting smarter-than-thou and simply say, "goodbye dear neighbor."
So goodbye dear neighbors; you will be missed.
You can draw a lesson to stay on the groomed slopes and/or carry an airbag on you. But even if these gentlemen died doing something stupid, they had the right to make the choices they made. They harmed no one else with their actions. So quit acting smarter-than-thou and simply say, "goodbye dear neighbor."
So goodbye dear neighbors; you will be missed.
21
@14 nails it. Saying that they were reckless by skiing during a period of high avalanche danger is ludicrous. There are risks inherent in every activity. By following proper backcountry skiing practices and carrying the right equipment, the group at Stevens fared much better than they could have given the circumstances. It was a freak accident and sometimes Mother Nature is bigger than you. Please refrain from commenting on safety etc. if you don't have any legitimate backcountry skiing knowledge. It just shows that any sport or activity like this is always potentially life-threatening and should always be regarded and respected as such.
22
@21, beautifully put, but it won't stop the chastisers. They came here to use the deaths as an excuse to revel in the joy they take in shaming. I'm kind of an asshole myself, I can spot an asshole move a mile away.
23
You can take all the precautions in the world and have the latest gear but avalanches are pretty unforgiving. Extreme skiers and snowboarders know the risks they are taking and they love taking them. I can't judge anyone for dying doing what they love, it's probably a better way to go than most of us will.
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