Avalanche in Fairveiw.(happy ending)

[BossRev]

Yesterday 2/23/10 my buddy Garrett was in an Avy 3 bowls back south of the top parking lot at fairview.

He and 2 others where heading down off the top of one of the peaks.
First rider dropped in and shortly after Garrett followed, just as Garrett started making his way down the mountain broke right in front of his skis. Shooting about 100 yards in each direction. Luckily for the first rider he was able to run clear of it before it started to pile up. Garrett was doing everything he could to stay behind it but his sled started sliding to fast and before he knew it he was caught right in the middle of it. He could feel the up and down wave like motion of the snow as it slid all around him, he then hit the first big wave which launched him fairly high out of the snow, then he came down only to hit the next big wave that launched him into the air endo'ing his sled and knocking him far away from it.

Now he was caught up in the slide tumbling down the hill swimming for his life.(at least he thinks he was swimming) He had a million thought going through his head as he tumbled with the slide. But mostly was thinking he needed to stay on top and keep his arms up which he felt was a way to let the others see him. In reality the snow dust cloud was so over whelming that neither of the 2 other riders could see him or his sled. One guy was up top and the other at the bottom. All they could see was a big cloud of snow.

To him it felt like he was tumbling and sliding forever catching glimpse of light and then darkness. As the slide started to come to a stop he was facing down hill on his hands and knees. But as he started to slow down he popped up and out of the snow, and was able to pull himself free.(extremely lucky)
the snow that settle around him was fairly light and fluffy at first, but with in a minute it has set up like concrete, which made getting the sled dug out really tough. He was 50 yards from his sled and the break line was 18" deep
With the size of this slide the out come could of been alot worse. Very lucky to have made it out of it so easily. But he definitely came away with a new found respect of the mountain.






(ps. sorry, I am not a reporter or a good story teller but felt this needed to be shared)

 

[sledhead ut]

Lucky indeed. Verifies the fact that only one person at a time should be on the hill.
Wonder if he has thoughts of purchasing an Avy Pack now?

Glad to hear all went home alive.

 

[1MEX]

Wow, Lucky for sure. Glad it went well on a bad situation. Its that kind of year, stay off or be ready....

 

[JohnnyQuestUtah]

That Drop into the South Fork of Lake Canyon always scares me . Glad your buddy is O.K. ........its one hell of a place to go for a swim !

peace-
johnny

 

[Colorado4fun]

Thank you so much for sharing. Glad it turned out the way it did.

T

 

[Kevco]

Ron Im not trying to start chit, but my buddy was buried in Wyo. 2 weeks ago, scary avy he was trapped had to be dug out. He couldnt find his handle to pull it? Dont anyone doubt this mans skills either he is one of two guys I ride with that I put in a league of their own. It his story if he want to tell it Ill let him tell it, I know your very savy Ron and would never do this, but some people may read that, get the bag then give a piece of their common sense the day off on the next ride. Im all for safety gear but not at the cost of complacency?

 

[sledhead ut]

Huh? My only point is having every opportunity to save your own life is key. Being knowledge or equipment I'd take all I can with me to the hill. How each individual chooses to use it is up to them but nothing is guaranteed. Been in a couple myself but I'm the last one to preach to anybody.

BTW: My question was curiosity question. Not trying to make a point at all.

So go pick on someone your own size.

 

[girlpowder]

Wow!!!!

Jacob, you could be a reporter. Way to tell it and make us all more aware. I'm super happy about the outcome. He's one lucky guy!!

Did he have a avy pack or not?

 

[FUAC]

I'm really glad it turned out ok. Be sure to report accidents like this to the Utah Avalanche Center - it helps us keep track of what is going on out there. A couple of pieces of information that would be useful to us: Were he and his partners equipped with beacon, shovel, and probe? Had he gone through any avalanche courses? And did anyone in the group check the avalanche forecast that morning?

Conditions are scary right now and hard to predict. This is not turning out to be the season to go big on steep slopes.

 

[BossRev]

I'm really glad it turned out ok.

1.Be sure to report accidents like this to the Utah Avalanche Center - it helps us keep track of what is going on out there.
A couple of pieces of information that would be useful to us:
2.Were he and his partners equipped with beacon, shovel, and probe?
3.Had he gone through any avalanche courses? 4.did anyone in the group check the avalanche forecast that morning?

Conditions are scary right now and hard to predict. This is not turning out to be the season to go big on steep slopes.

1. I just did

2. Yes.

3. No. (not until yesterdays rough course)

4. No.

 

[DRAPE]

Huh? My only point is having every opportunity to save your own life is key. Being knowledge or equipment I'd take all I can with me to the hill. How each individual chooses to use it is up to them but nothing is guaranteed. Been in a couple myself but I'm the last one to preach to anybody.

BTW: My question was curiosity question. Not trying to make a point at all.

So go pick on someone your own size.

Great report. Agreed! I'll take everything I can get to help save my life and the life of others.

 

[Skinner]

WoW!

Lucky guy. Glad it all turn out good.

 

[mtnpull]

Wow, close call. Glad it turned out ok. If that were me it would have me re-evaluating my life and wondering why I was given a second chance.

Did someone really give FUAC a negative post rating.......seriously lame.

 

[Tree Boss]

Did someone really give FUAC a negative post rating.......seriously lame.

I can't believe that somebody gave FUAC bad rep for helping out with info to SAVE SOME ONES LIFE!!!!! seriously???? what is wrong with some people. Did I check todays Avalanche conditions before I went out no, and I should have there is no excuse to hurry and check the conditions. I did loan out an extra beacon to a kid in our group to be safe for him and for peace of mind for me.

By the Way Tonys Grove sucked and nobody should ever ride up there again

 

[cowboysedge]

Wow! Sounds like a close one. Glad they made it home safe.

I'm with SH on this one. I like to take all the tools with me on the hill. Avy forcast, Avy gear, Avy education, Fellow riders with Avy education, and My ABS! I thought about avy safety once in a while while riding but never took it serious until I lost 3 friends to an Avy last year.

Now I hope I never have to use any of my gear or my ABS but I will use any tool I have to make sure I come home to my girls and to make sure the peeps I ride with go home to theirs. #1 tool is inside my helmet.


Kev, glad your buddy made it out of his Avy. Man, I sure hope if I ever need to use my handle I can remember where it's at. Never know what the situation is like until your in it. Sounds like they did a great job it he was buried and is still here to tell about it.

I also see where you are coming from about people getting a bag and then giving common sense the day off. We see that all the time!

Sometimes we all take chances where we shouldn't and we know it. I just hope if I do slip and the worst happens, my wife and buddies are there for me like I am for them!

 

[zebiraross]

Glad they are ok. I'm always more freaked out going down stuff and droping ridges that could slide then going up.

 

[mtnpull]

Jacob, where you there and did you see it happen? Seeing avy's first hand can be pretty humbling and make you think twice about center punching a slope. Was his sled completely buried? He did good on swimming and staying on top.

 

[SledsWest]

We were riding Fairview that same day and saw multiple avys in Rolfson and Staker canyons. All on the northeast to east facing slopes. The snow is VERY unstable up there right now.

 

[BossRev]

Jacob, where you there and did you see it happen? Seeing avy's first hand can be pretty humbling and make you think twice about center punching a slope. Was his sled completely buried? He did good on swimming and staying on top.

I was not there, I was up here riding that day. Where we saw a slide that was cause by 2 sleds on the same hill, they weren't with us. Everything I wrote was told to me by Garrett that night.(not sure if you remember, but Garrett was with us on our early lake creek adventure.)

His sled was partially buried.

 

[SnowBigDeal]

Glad everything turned out for the good!

Fairview was VERY VERY unstable on Monday & Tuesday. We were riding there and saw multiple fresh slides and saw a group trigger one in Staker canyon. Fractures were appearing on the hills, especially on North, NorthEast, and East facing slopes.

And did anyone in the group check the avalanche forecast that morning?

Fairview Avy forecast only gets updated on the weekends. However, there were so many signs up there that it was not hard to tell that Avy danger was High on shaded slopes.