Alpental 12/31

[Skrad]

Since the Utah gang has gone quiet I will file an entry from the PacNW.

Alpental has an excellent base from the November storms (around 70" at the top). It did not snow for weeks on end in December during which time the snow got progressively firmer. Happily, it has been snowy the past several days/ today sported a thick coat of cold graupel-like stuff that made for nice turns just about everywhere. Crowds were what might be expected; it routinely took 15 minutes to get on Chair 2 (a double that is fed by a high-speed quad that accesses the best terrain). Around noon the Nash gate to the Alpental "BC" opened. While we missed the first lap in the BC, the slow chair does keep this area from getting hit too hard too fast. The BC is a bit like Castle but longer, steeper, and riddled with gullies, cliffs, and large old growth trees on its lower reaches.

I am flying out of SeaTac tomorrow and plan to catch first ride at Alyeska; my SLC friend Matt moved up there last year and has a condo in Girdwood. Plan to stay until next Sunday as a long-term house guest. Will tour at Turnagain Pass and Snowcat at Winner Creek. By the time I return, Utah better have snow. But if it doesn't, I guess I will loop through BC again. I have still never been to Kicking Horse and even Louise is doing well I heard. Rogers was great last week but the Avy danger has since climbed to "High" and my guide will be working at TLH by then.

Doug

 

[Marc_C]

Since the Utah gang has gone quiet...

Not a whole lot to get excited or write about. I'm so motivated I slept in then spent the morning organizing my photos.

Rogers was great last week but the Avy danger has since climbed to "High" and my guide will be working at TLH by then.

A CMH client was killed in the Selkirks this past Friday:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/12/31/19184791.html

 

[lookn4powder]

A CMH client was killed in the Selkirks this past Friday:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/12/31/19184791.html

I am surprised to see that the client was not wearing an avalanche airbag as standard equipment supplied by the backcountry vendor. Granted, it costs around 2x more than the near-useless transceiver, but the client would be almost certainly alive today.

Jeff

 

[Marc_C]

A CMH client was killed in the Selkirks this past Friday:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/12/31/19184791.html

I am surprised to see that the client was not wearing an avalanche airbag as standard equipment supplied by the backcountry vendor. Granted, it costs around 2x more than the near-useless transceiver, but the client would be almost certainly alive today.

An avi airbag is *not* "standard equipment supplied by the backcountry vendor". CMH does have them available as an optional rental item, but does not require them. Many heliski operators prohibit their use due to concerns about accidental deployment inside the helicopter. Even CMH requires that they be stowed outside the cabin.

Like anything else, there is no basis to state "the client would be almost certainly alive today" as there is no possible way to know that. To call a transceiver as being "near-useless" is blatantly irresponsible to say nothing of non-factual, as it is well documented that they have indeed saved numerous lives.

You might want to read the following items from CMH for perspective:

http://blog.canadianmountainholiday...-and-Heliskiing-A-Rapidly-Changing-Technology

http://blog.canadianmountainholidays.com/heli-ski-blog/?Tag=safety

http://www.canadianmountainholidays.com/multimedia/email/Nov13-09

 

[Tony Crocker]

Like anything else, there is no basis to state "the client would be almost certainly alive today" as there is no possible way to know that. To call a transceiver as being "near-useless" is blatantly irresponsible to say nothing of non-factual, as it is well documented that they have indeed saved numerous lives.

Both statements are true, but given that Euro data presented at ISSW in 2010 indicates airbags prevented 97% of burials there is little question in my mind that they will increase the avalanche survival rate. Eagle Pass Heli included airbag packs for all clients when I skied a day there in 2010, though this was in an A-Star, not the big helicopters CMH uses. Also at ISSW there was discussion of a Jackson Hole patroller fatality during control work. Despite the avalanche being observed by 3 other patrollers, the victim was buried 7 feet deep and could not be rescued in time. The investigation of this incident resulted in JHMR buying airbag packs for all of its patrollers.

 

[lookn4powder]

...The investigation of this incident resulted in JHMR buying airbag packs for all of its patrollers.

The last point is my point exactly. I also agree with Marc's point that we cannot know the outcome from a different set of choices by vendor and client--and i absolutely do not suggest negligence by the operator. (And the airbags are not without their own risks.) But I wonder if experience, starting from this unfortunate incident, won't change vendor standard operating procedure.

Jeff