Will this be the deadliest year ever for avy deaths?

[RGM]

In the south coast we do not have our “normal” snow pack, there has been a bad rain crust from early December and facets from the cold spell we had. If you think just because that slope never slides and it won’t today you could be in for a big surprise. Why is it so hard for people to take an avy course and actual learn something that could save their life or others. If the people that have been killed so far this year followed just some simple rules the death toll would be much lower.

1. Only one person on the slope at a time and that includes if your buddy trenches it as high as he could get. If he can’t get unstuck by himself why is he riding in places like that. Don’t go up and help him and make that clear to him that you won’t

2. Don’t watch your buddy from the runout zone. Is this ever a no brainer yet it happens all the time
3. Buy a beacon and learn how to use and wear it all the time not just when the rating is high.
4. Take an avy course and if it been a while take a refresher or more advanced course. The Black Tusk Snowmobile Club is putting on a course January 12 & 13 for more info go to btsc.ca


Be safe out there, remember if something happens you are the rescuers

 

[Wired1]

Not good so far. 18 deaths in US and Canada this season.

http://www.avalanche.org/av-reports/

 

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

I dont think the year the studenets did in revy skiing will be beat. I dont recall the year... 2005? I think around 50 ppl died in aveys that year. sj

 

[Backcountry]

Wearing a beacon is mandatory- but its not a free-spin card if you get hit with an avalanche. I feel that there may be a growing sentiment that a beacon will save your hiney if you get hit in an avalanche and therefore may disregard the danger present. A beacon is one part of the equation but not near the solution.

 

[PassRev]

RGM,
Well put...

Snow pack is way off normal, throw away anything you thought you knew about terrain that you have experience on.

We all need to be present to our surroundings, how we get there, where we ride, where we watch or rest.

For our part, we are also stepping up our beacon practice making every effort to make sure that we are cutting as much time in the search phase as possible.

 

[WHISTLER HELISLEDDER]

Good advice Ray!...The way the storm cycles are coming we may have to be very patient to access the goods...By the way the avi course at Brohm is taught by Niko Weiss ...he is an excellent teacher and has seen the many different conditions that we are now faced with...

 

[BigBlueEdge]

Here's another. Fortunately nobody died in this one. Looking at the picture of the hill I'd never suspect that would be much risk. But I'm new to mountain riding...

http://www.startribune.com/local/13004746.html

Rob

 

[team dirt]

just looking at the picture in the news article you can see that the wind is blowing alot of snow around on that slope, creating a dangerous wind slab. avalanches dont have to be a huge face sliding to kill, its the ones you would never expect that will get you.

 

[KSH]

Looking at the picture of the hill I'd never suspect that would be much risk. But I'm new to mountain riding...

Rob

That's why everyone needs to take some type of class.
You need to know when your playing in bad areas.

 

[PassRev]

The cornice at the top of the hill in the picture is a definite sign of
wind loading. Slopes between 30 and 50 degrees with few or sparse anchors (trees, rocks, etc) are prone to avalanche, slopes in the 35 ~ 45 range are most likely.

 

[BigBlueEdge]

That's why everyone needs to take some type of class.
You need to know when your playing in bad areas.

Is there some type of 'what to look for' guide somewhere on the forum or elsewhere that inexperienced folks can learn from?

Rob

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Is there some type of 'what to look for' guide somewhere on the forum or elsewhere that inexperienced folks can learn from?

Rob

Here ya go, Rob!

Avalanche info

 

[montanasledder]

hope not, but starting out badly

 

[skibreeze]

Here's another. Fortunately nobody died in this one. Looking at the picture of the hill I'd never suspect that would be much risk. But I'm new to mountain riding...

http://www.startribune.com/local/13004746.html

Rob

37-38 degree slopes are the most prone, and that slope looks very close to that. It would probably slide more if not for the fact that this slope gets pounded on constantly by sledders.

It's best to evaluate every slope and assume it will slide. Where are the terrain traps, rocks, trees, runout. Also, know the avy conditions before you ride.

We, as sledders are also more likely to trigger slides than a boarder or skier. Keep that in mind when you ride.

When you have searched for an avy victim that didn't make it, seen your best friend almost completely buried, and seen all the posts here over the years about avys, it makes you almost paranoid about them.

 

[RGM]

3 more deaths this weekend due to that Dec 5th crust. That crust is buried way down there so if it lets go it will be a major avy and the chances of dying from trauma will be much higher than average. You can dig a pit and determine it is stable but what it is in the start zones may be a completely different thing. Near a thinner area or rock band the faceting may be totally different. 2 people have died this season digging snowpits so you have to be very careful where you dig them and be sure they will represent what you would find in the start zones. If you have no idea what I am talking about then you better be signing up for a avy course.

 

[graveler]

3 more deaths this weekend due to that Dec 5th crust. That crust is buried way down there so if it lets go it will be a major avy and the chances of dying from trauma will be much higher than average. You can dig a pit and determine it is stable but what it is in the start zones may be a completely different thing. Near a thinner area or rock band the faceting may be totally different. 2 people have died this season digging snowpits so you have to be very careful where you dig them and be sure they will represent what you would find in the start zones. If you have no idea what I am talking about then you better be signing up for a avy course.

with threads like this you must have a few uninformed people on your guided rides!!!! we watch people playing or just sitting in run out areas all the time. they have no clue and look at you like your an A** hole after you inform them of there choice of areas.

 

[summitchaser]

Unfortuantley (sp)? there are a lot of sledders out there that think an avy will never happen to them, for what ever reason. I know alot of people that don't have the proper equipment and because they think they don't ride in avy terrain. This is a horrible year for Washington already 9 deaths and we are just starting the new year. The thought of not going home at the end of the should be motivation enough to take a class or pick the brains of people with experience or knowledge.

 

[Cat Kid]

I think there are two main reasons people aren't more careful:

1) Sticker shock on what the survival gear costs. Yeah I know, what's you life worth, but you have to admit the stuff is expensive ESPECIALLY for people who only ride out west once or twice a year

2) A lot of riders are people who are way out of their element. Lots of city folk come out to play in the hills thinking the mountains are just fun and fluffy play areas (which they are), but don't understand the dangers that come along with the package. Its just like campers in the summer who leave their food out for bears to find, its a abvious mistake for seasoned outdoors people, but it never crosses newb's minds.

Personally its taken me four years to talk my group into getting avy gear. They have this flattlander mentallity that "we aren't that aggressive and will just avoid those areas." Just like that MN guy who got burried a couple weeks ago. They still have that mentality, but at least now I convinced them to get the gear. Baby steps i guess.

...I think I need to find new friends to ride with.

 

[asu_gt]

Is there any real data to suggest a relationship between level of experience or geographic location and fatality rate? Granted the data would be a bit skewed in terms of location as those who live in the mountains frequent them more than flatlanders.

In reading the newstories and posts, I am not convinced that the majority of fatalities in avys are city guys coming from the flatlands. Our group makes a few trips out west each year and we all live East of the Missouri river. We are very aware(paranoid) of avy conditions and probability and not treading in moderate risk areas.

Has anyone watched the bonus feature on the Acclivity in Cooke DVD? Those guys had a fatality and had guys who were avy scientists and avid back country skiers.

My kids would rather have me return from the trip safely than die getting the highmark...my wife may think differently...

I think there are two main reasons people aren't more careful:

2) A lot of riders are people who are way out of their element. Lots of city folk come out to play in the hills thinking the mountains are just fun and fluffy play areas (which they are), but don't understand the dangers that come along with the package. Its just like campers in the summer who leave their food out for bears to find, its a abvious mistake for seasoned outdoors people, but it never crosses newb's minds.
.

 

[PassRev]

...I think I need to find new friends to ride with.

Especially true this season.

We have made a considerable investment over the years to make sure that we are have the knowledge and the right equipment. We look at it as part of a necessary commitment if we want to play in the mountains. Being able to look out for and save our collective butts if things go South is top priority. Several years ago we started to take a look at how many of our skiing and sledding friends were properly equipped with the tools knowledge to save our lives if it came to that. Needless to say our list of riding and skiing partners changed to some degree...