More bad avy news

[shanny]

This tradegy was just aired on world news as well...

http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/331635/222/5-buried-in-avalanche-near-US-6-Loveland-Pass

Thoughts go out to the families and friends of the victims.

The avy danger is clearly not over...Please ride safe

 

[Gmiller]

This is obviously getting out of hand.... Obviously my condolences go out to the families but you HAVE to be smarter period. You DON'T ride 6 down a hill in high avy conditions. I was snowmobiling today and i didn't even TOUCH the ridge. I hate to be dick in these situations but this kinda **** pisses me off.

 

[BOHICA]

Horrible news

 

[glennz]

Very Sad!
I always stop & pick up riders on the pass when ever were driving that way.

 

[Goinboardin]

To be clear, they were not riding 6 at a time. They were splitboarders, ascending not descending. Rest in peace

 

[Gmiller]

Yes they were skinning up. Either way these guys loaded the hill with 6 guys. With all the spring snow and the deep slabs it was not a wise choice.

 

[milehighassassin]

From what I read they weren't really even climbing at this point. They moved a log out of a wood pile at the bottom and the hill and the entire thing let loose. This wasn't their first time there, they had done it many times before, well prepared and tragedy struck.

RIP


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tudizzle]

From what I read they weren't really even climbing at this point. They moved a log out of a wood pile at the bottom and the hill and the entire thing let loose. This wasn't their first time there, they had done it many times before, well prepared and tragedy struck.

RIP


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think you mis-read an analogy used to describe the avalanche.

"It appears that they triggered the avalanche low down on the slope much like pulling a log out from the bottom of a wood pile," said Dale Atkins with the Alpine Rescue Team.

 

[Pro-8250]

What I saw on the news is that they were experienced. So sad! Either way.
I think we have all had enough bad news in the last week.
Colorado. Massachusetts. Texas. Take care everyone!

 

[skibreeze]

Most avy victims are considered experienced.

 

[backcountryislife]

Most avy victims are considered experienced.

I knew some of these guys... they're not just experienced, they were what I would call strong backcountry people. I'm just so amazed that they were complacent enough to all F-IN SIX be in the same slope at once. Just unreal.


I see this a lot with people skinning, they all hop on the slope at once to go up, but somehow it's different when they go down... cause they're real particular about one at a time on the way down. WTF?

 

[bushy]

Yep, it's usually the experienced that get caught, but maybe because they spend 10 times more time out there too? Any avy air bags with this crew?

 

[trinitypowder]

According to the CAIC site, some had Avalungs and one guy had a Float bag.............didnt say if anything was deployed or used. It's a bad deal all the way around. Having said that, loading the slope at or near tree line with 1,000+ pounds of moving weight aint good. RIP boys.

 

[backcountryislife]

According to the CAIC site, some had Avalungs and one guy had a Float bag.............didnt say if anything was deployed or used. It's a bad deal all the way around. Having said that, loading the slope at or near tree line with 1,000+ pounds of moving weight aint good. RIP boys.

The guy with the avy bag... the trigger was still in it's pocket. Useful.

A buddy of mine was caught in a slide a few weeks ago with the pack that saved me in '10... he didn't have the handle put in properly and it just pulled out.

I NEVER take mine out aside from being at home, pulling it to lubricate it once a month or so. I see zero point in ever removing the handle other than to check for function. I've been carrying them around for 5 years now, one for each of us, and have yet to have an accidental deployment. If I did, I'd call & get a new cylinder coming... not a big deal.

 

[bushy]

Just the news said how they had all the available survival gear, but they didn't, or didn't use it. Slide that big you'd probably die from trauma, bag or not. Much rather be in the top 6' than the bottom 6' though. My handle hangs out and is easily in reach.

 

[backcountryislife]

Just the news said how they had all the available survival gear, but they didn't, or didn't use it. Slide that big you'd probably die from trauma, bag or not. Much rather be in the top 6' than the bottom 6' though. My handle hangs out and is easily in reach.

The guy that lived was tangled up with one that died... tells me they could have both lived. Not sure about others, but I'd still rather be on top.

 

[Nychaze]

Full Report

https://avalanche.state.co.us/acc/acc_report.php?accfm=inv&acc_id=505&view=public

They aren't reporting if they died from trauma or suffocation, im shocked it took so long for people to rescue with all the activity up there but i guess they were just in a spot that cant be seen.

RIP

 

[snowww1]

I visited the site today. When you see the terrain in person, it really puts into perspective the risk involved to cross that slope. Much can be learned from the accident report. If you're traveling on I-70 east as you come out of the tunnel, you can see the avalanche above Loveland Basin. Mike Duffy

 

[snowww1]

Video of the avalanche site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=C_SY2jxk4_8

I have also posted some photos and links at "Avalanche1" on Facebook.

Mike Duffy
Avalanche1.com
Avalanche education for mountain riders.

 

[backcountryislife]

I've ridden sleds up that drainage before, when we had permission to test down at the valley, and I remember thinking what a nasty terrain trap it was with the cross loaded drainage. There's another side loaded windlip that forms down lower as well that's kind of sketchy. Even sledding there in the late spring, being out of sight of my group it made me nervous... There's nowhere to go to get out of the path if it drops.


The thing that gets me... they could have easily stayed on the windward side of the valley though, avoiding the loaded slope & terrain trap at once. I just don't get how these guys got in that situation. I've ridden with Ian before, he's the type to talk about the situation as you start going. I just don't understand how none of the 6 gave it any thought, so much so as to not even have the trigger on the bag out. It just seems so odd.