Cooke City Avy Death

[carlc]

Im sorry to hear this, my thoughts go out to the family. This is off of the Helena IR website. Sorry if it has been posted somewhere else

I am saddened to report that a snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche yesterday outside Cooke City. The snowmobiler triggered and was buried on a northeast facing slope in Fisher Creek which broke one to four feet deep and 3-400 feet wide. He was dug up within 10-12 minutes, but did not survive. Eric and his partner witnessed the avalanche and assisted in the rescue. All of us at the Avalanche Center send our deepest sympathies to family and friends. Additionally, last night Eric informed me that a cross country skier was caught and buried south of Cooke City. More details are forthcoming on both these incidents.

 

[Bacon]

Not good. I wonder if that is the area right by that mining shack. That is not a good place.

 

[sledhead13c]

Thoughts and prayers to the family, RIP

 

[carlc]

Bacon Im about 99 percent sure thats where it was. Those chutes always slide but people insist on climbing them.

 

[Summit8]

Was saddened to get the news last night through friends, knew the guy.Was also thinking that was the slope, have played up on it in the trees in the past.Had to have been loaded after 4" of new snow. Well, you folks be careful out there.

 

[lingnine]

anybody hear if they had any kind of avy gear?

 

[FatDogX]

Sad sad day, thoughts and prayers to the family and friends!!

Reminder to all, ride safe, ride smart!!!!

Also with that wear your avy gear, know how to use it and test it!!!

 

[Spud]

Thoughts & prayers go out.....
i swear 8 outta the past 10 years we have always lost someone here on this holiday, come on fellow riders BE CAREFUL!

 

[sledneck434]

Not good R.I.P buddy!

 

[Ryan-41]

Thoughts and prayers to family and friends, RIP

 

[steiny]

yes they had avy gear

 

[snowmobiler]

Those chutes always slide but people insist on climbing them.

maybe somebody or a sled club can put up some warning signs?

 

[waycooljr]

Thoughts and prayers go out from my family to the family and friends of Jody. He was a great guy, and loved snowmobiling! Godspeed to ya fellow Fireman, until we meet again.......................

 

[Bacon]

maybe somebody or a sled club can put up some warning signs?

It has been talked about but they are afraid it would open them up to a lawsuit if some areas are marked and others are not. Someone would get killed on a hill that is not marked and the club could be in trouble. Just what I have been told. The locals will warn you about certain areas if you ask. The thing is there are dangers to riding in the mountains and that is just a fact of life.

 

[Impatientforsnow]

Me and my family spent the last 4 days ridding in Cookecity the last 2 mornings I woke up and told my wife that I knew someone is going to die today ...Due to the deep snow conditions and seeing many people that didnt have a clue what kinda situations that they could be getting themselves into..even though you have a beacon and a avy vest on dosen't mean you can survive a avalanche!!! if you are not trained or been to avy classes to be able to read the snow conditions stay out of the Moutains!! The Last 3 days it was blatantly obvious that everything was on the verge of slidding, if it didnt slide already..so what im getting at avy signs put up by the local Snowmobile club wont work cause there were Natural signs everywhere!!!!.there are plenty of places to ride in Cooke that keeps you outta avy danger..and plenty of tree ridding ect. just remember its not the Gear you wear , its the decisions you make that will save you and your friends life..

 

[aebsledder]

^^^^^^
Rode Lionshead today and witnessed some guys doing things that had me in utter disbelief. So discouraging to see that type of behavior. Think of any basic safety precaution and these guys threw it out the window. I hope they made it out okay.

 

[mthoodskiguy]

anybody hear if they had any kind of avy gear?

Well if they had him above snow that fast my guess is yes... Also an assumption but I would assume he was killed by blunt force trauma and not asphyXation..

 

[skidoorulz]

maybe somebody or a sled club can put up some warning signs?

Warning signs would not work. A few years ago I took the time to stop and tell some people from N.Dak that were climbing those chutes and sitting right at the bottom of those chutes, that they were in a pretty bad spot to be sitting and doing what they were doing due to the danger of slides in that particular area. I also mentioned that they were darn near on top of where 2 guys lost their lives previously. I was told that they were expert riders and that they knew what they were doing and that I should mind my own business. I started my sled, shook my head and left.

Does anyone know about the skier? Where was he sking? What I read was south of town on level ground. Highway?

 

[mthoodskiguy]

Warning signs would not work. A few years ago I took the time to stop and tell some people from N.Dak that were climbing those chutes and sitting right at the bottom of those chutes, that they were in a pretty bad spot to be sitting and doing what they were doing due to the danger of slides in that particular area. I also mentioned that they were darn near on top of where 2 guys lost their lives previously. I was told that they were expert riders and that they knew what they were doing and that I should mind my own business. I started my sled, shook my head and left.

Some peeps let there ego pave the way for their own death.... It takes lookin at a friends lifeless to get it through some peoples heads....

 

[Spud]

^^^^^^
Rode Lionshead today and witnessed some guys doing things that had me in utter disbelief. So discouraging to see that type of behavior. Think of any basic safety precaution and these guys threw it out the window. I hope they made it out okay.

What I am in utter disbelief is,
WTF were u idiots thinking by even being close to these slopes at Lionshead or Cooke, @#%k!!!!!!!!