Revy avey info

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

I think it could be very helpful if we all could get actual info from people involved. If you weren't there please don't post unless you are adding to questions about the avey.
Some of the questions I have are.
- how did avey bags appear to help
- how deep were survivors being found
- were beacons of much use seeing there was so many on site
- how long did the slide take to hit
- how was probing handled seeing they were probably hitting debris
- any idea how long completely buried victims were buried


Thanks sj

 

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

Ttt

 

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

Ah well it seemed like a good idea. I guess bickering with that idiot ot is more entertaining

 

[backcountryislife]

That's a shame. I've been looking forward to getting some legitimate info about the incident, like how many people had bags & what part they played, and how many people were actually buried to the point that they needed rescue.

In the 13+ pages there is little useful info for how much there is in there.
It would be good to be able to find out what we can learn from this.

Or we could all just bicker with each other & try to ignore OT...

 

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

I guess I'll have go thru those 13 pages and pm the ppl that were there. Sj

 

[Tuesday]

I would be interested in those details.

 

[SylvanLaker]

I would be interested in those details.

yup me too!

 

[spoon]

I was there and will tell you what I saw. My whole group was involved except for me and Dan Davidoff who off trying each others sleds elsewhere. We arrived immediately after it happened. As to Avy bags they were not used as most people were spectating and had them off or were running or riding to get out of way. My guys told me it took a whole max of 10 seconds for the whole thing to occur. They watched the last guy go over and it let loose within 10-20 seconds after and the crack spread like a lightning bolt across the whole mountain face. Most at first were just watching thinking it would come down and stop on the bench near the bottom of the hill. Once they saw the first whoomph of snow dust everyone realized this was bigger than they thought and a mad scramble to get out of way ensued. Some did get away, some were already out of harms way and the majority got hit by it. All who could get out or were out of the way quickly started helping the ones nearest the surface and they in turn started helping as well. Everyone was recovered or found within first 10 minutes and the deepest one buried was Shay the one who was stuck on hill when it broke and who died at scene. Most of the people were close to surface and deepest was probably about 4 feet other than Shay who was between 10-15 feet deep at the top part of slide where it stopped. His partner was buried about 2-3 feet and appeared to have suffered massive head trauma most likely caused by wrecked sleds which were strewn all around him. He was about 2/3 of the way down the debris field and at opposite corner of slide from Shay. Everyone worked together quite well using their beacons to help find people. Probing was mostly done after everyone was found but done to see if whole groups were missing which is what we all thought was bound to happen. It is a miracle that everyone was accounted for in that first 15 minutes. After ward we organized more searches, built fires and tended to the injured until help arrived. We started to get sleds unburied and assess condition to ride them out after the human part of the ordeal was over. Sleds were packed in so tight that we had to dig out tracks and suspensions to allow tracks to turn. Many were missing lots of parts, some were bent and twisted beyond belief. There were avy bags, backpacks, goggles, etc strewn everywhere. Everytime I found something in the snow it was scary to pick up to see if it was attached to anyone. Thankfully everyone was really out at this time and accounted for. A fact no one knew for sure until a day later. An experience I will never forget and forever learn from. My condolences to the families of the deceased and a speedy recovery wished to the injured. Only one person in our whole group of over 20 people is out for the rest of season and it is a separated collarbone and he did ride his own sled back to the parking lot. We count ourselves as very lucky.

 

[Spur]

Spoon nice post.

Can I respectfully ask that we put this thread on ice until after the 23rd.

 

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

Why? Is there something going on? The fresher this info the better? Im sorry if i dont know what the date means , dont mean to be insensitive. sj

 

[rigrat]

Shay and Kurtis funerals are on 22 and 23. Probably the reason.

 

[Lucky Lyle]

I to was also there, must have arrived just after the dust settled. Some of our group were already there and fortunately was out of harms way. I unknowingly pulled right up to where the slide had filled in about 30 feet and also where we dug Shay out. My first thoughts were where is everyone, looking around the remaining people I did see seemed to be in sort of shock. It didn't take long for the reality to set in for me and the others remaining standing. Now this is where we all can learn from the horrible tragedy, a couple strong voices began shouting orders and organizing the beacon searching and probing, that resulted in the quick response which resulted in I am sure saving many lives. For myself at the time I found it very difficult to decide when to quit searching believing that many more could still be missing, but their were many injured and many without sleds to ride out. So I suppose it was a couple hours after the slide and after the rescue choppers began evacuating the injured that a few of us began digging out sleds for people to ride out on. Many sleds could be seen under the snow but near the top, and that made me think to myself OMG how many more down deep. Working for a couple more hours I estimate digging out and getting running 10 to 15 sleds. Now maybe someone can help me understand why all those sleds had the water bottle caps missing, can a avalanche of this size cause an atmospheric pressure change? My thought only, is that the snow was powder and light but a lot of it, and traveled down the mountain extremely fast with a outward rotation that when it hit the crowd everything got blasted up and down, leaving 20 to 30 feet of snow where sleds and people had been. It was getting dark now, made sure everyone had a sled or rode some out double before we left ourselves, besides being told to leave by search and rescue who took the seen over with dogs and equipment. Myself I was sick riding away truly believing many more had perished by being buried by the amount of snow that covered the area were so many had been parked. I could say more but I no there's nothing more that will give comfort to the family's who have lost the most. Many thoughts and prayers for them.

 

[spoon]

Well put Lyle.

 

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

Great posts , thanks !

 

[zacs]

Conversation piece

Not sure what everyone's reaction is going to be to this request but....Randy & I represent the CAC at a lot of snowmobile tradeshows and other events and watch sledders move down the aisles and wonder what it would take to get more people to slow down and stop by the booth.

One idea that we've kicked around the last couple of years is to locate a snowmobile that has been seriously damaged in a slide. Something to show the incredible power that a large avalanche can have. Not sure if this is the time and place to ask, but from the media reports it sounds like many sleds were caught in the slide. I'm wondering if anyone has a sled that their insurance company is writing off that could be donated to the Canadian Avalanche Centre for this purpose?

Please accept my apologies if anyone finds this post in bad taste, I am not trying to be offensive, just looking to find unique ways raise awareness and get people thinking.

 

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

Sounds like a great idea. Would be cool if an ins co. would donate it. sj