Why Do We Keep Triggering Avy's

[modsledr]

I just read the post about the avy in New Denver, B.C., and thankfully everybody made it off the hill.

Looking at the pics from the avy report, couldn't help but notice the crowns from previous recent slides on the SAME HILL!!

Why do we continue to climb slide prone hills? This hill had obviously slid recently, so there cant be a "never seen this hill slide before" excuse.

Live to ride another day...there will always be another hill to climb, unless you dont come home!!

Be Safe,
modsledr

 

[MARCUSO]

You know, I also thought that one pic was wierd.
At first I thought it was a sled track, but then I noticed the sharp downturn on the lower line, so I think it is a fracture.

I think what is seen is a crossloaded slope that got a whole lot more on the left side of the pic. Could it just be multi layers failing at one time?

Forecasters have predicted this season to be the worst, just because of the Dec. 5th crust. There are more layers now that have proven to be a hazard.
One worry to me is the spring time, when everyone thinks the slopes are safer, the sun gets the upper half all slushy.... lower layers are still preserved, and it comes down the chutes like a concrete trough and is so heavy that it just flows.. at slopes as low as 25 degrees.

 

[Comp 670]

Seems to be most people don't learn till it happens to them....(yes,I am guilty of that....)

Everybody has the "It won't happen to me,I'm to smart for that" attitude.

We have to worst avy conditions in history and people seem to be riding if it's a normal year....Sad..

 

[modsledr]

Riding yesterday...hardpack and crusty...probably never think in a million years there is an avy risk.

When sitting having lunch, I started kicking at the snow just screwing around...get past the first foot or so and under is light, fluffy snow.

Epic POW followed by warm and wet = scary conditions for the rest of the season.

Dont be fooled by the surface. I'm no avy expert...never been in one or seen one in person. But common sense has to over-rule the need to climb.

Live to ride another day.

modsledr

 

[H20SKE]

Avy Education--Common sense??

This is the worst avy season in recorded history in the PNW for sure.

Like ya say--it seems safe on top--but you have to remember the "preserved layers" that are the real issue--BAD NEWS.

And so true--It won't happen to me attitude---Guess what--YOU ARE WRONG!! It can and will if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It has happened to me as well--Got hit by a AVY from behind up at Gallagher several years back--It does happen.

Be Safe out there!!

H20SKE...

 

[andy_09]

inevitable

Avalanches are one of natures natural disasters keyword natural

With the turbo sleds making over 300hp and naturally aspirated big bores making upwards of 250hp-throw in a 174''x2.75'' and an expierenced rider and nature for the most part cant stop the machine. Now were able to go where ever we want in to alot of uncharted territory which multiplys the chance of an avalanche

anything can trigger and avalanche but when you got a machine plus rider lets say 750 pounds going up a chute with high decibals it can be pretty inevitable

watch snow conditions and have the right equipment and it will increase safety among not only yourself but other riders around

Just my two cents

 

[DARKO]

Add to the above, even basic common sense:

Dont fuggin sidehill 250 yards across the slope, just creates a nice line to fracture. Just do your nice tight turn out and carry on.

And my favorite, but still the most breached - ONLY 1 rider on the slope/hill at a time.

 

[AlaskaSnowSafaris]

Here is some older but good information that Jill, Doug and Bruce put together awhile back about avalanches and the human factor:

http://www.avalanche.org/~moonstone/issw%2094%27/the%20human%20factor-lessons%20for%20avalanche%20education.htm

There was also an article in ADN today by Craig Medred about beacons and your brain, not too bad coming from a guy I don't agree with most of the time.

http://www.adn.com/outdoors/craig_medred/story/324369.html

 

[Knappy headed ho]

Because a lot of riders think with their thumb and not their brain.

 

[BowSheet]

Because a lot of riders think with their thumb and not their brain.

Truer words were never posted.

 

[modsledr]

Avalanches are one of natures natural disasters keyword natural

With the turbo sleds making over 300hp and naturally aspirated big bores making upwards of 250hp-throw in a 174''x2.75'' and an expierenced rider and nature for the most part cant stop the machine. Now were able to go where ever we want in to alot of uncharted territory which multiplys the chance of an avalanche

anything can trigger and avalanche but when you got a machine plus rider lets say 750 pounds going up a chute with high decibals it can be pretty inevitable

watch snow conditions and have the right equipment and it will increase safety among not only yourself but other riders around

Just my two cents

I agree that the sleds are getting us into more and more dangerous areas.
I also agree that anything can trigger an avy.

You put a lot of emphasis on avy's being natural. I dont agree that sled triggered avy's are naturally occuring events (at least that is how I'm reading your first statement). Its entirely possible that many of the sled triggered avy's would NEVER happen on their own.

Most human triggered avy's can be avoided, that was my original point and the point of others here. Common sense and education.

Like said above...dont think with your thumb, only one on a hill at a time, etc...

modsledr

 

[NoSecondChances]

Like said above...dont think with your thumb, only one on a hill at a time, etc...
modsledr

Or people could just stop riding in avalanche terrain until the conditions have decreased.

You can do all the things above, buy all the beacons in the world, have the best probe and shovel made out of space age material, take all the avy courses they offer, only ride one on the hill at a time etc...........and if you're riding in avy terrain when the conditions are perfect for avalanches....you can still get caught and die.

All the beacons, probes, shovels etc won't do you any good if you get caught in an avy and it slams you into a tree, breaks your neck on a rock, tosses you off a cliff, etc. People are only being naive if they think that the things above will "save" them from an avalanche. They may help someone recover them alive or just recover their body.

The only thing that will save you from an avalanche is your brain.

You asked: Why do we keep triggering avalanches? Because we continue to ride in avalanche terrain when the conditions are prime for avalanches. The answer is simple and the solution is not complex.

We have to stop riding in avy terrain when conditions are not safe, or be willing to accept the risk and be willing to pay the ultimate price for our decision.