Avalanche kills MA teen near Snowbasin

[Sharon]

This is an example of what can happen when you are ignorant and unprepared.

http://www.avalanche.org/%7Euac/Acciden ... -17-07.htm

If each person had a beacon and the necessary gear, they might have been able to dig the kid out alive.

 

[Tony Crocker]

While riding the SnowBasin tram Sunday, I specifically remember the tram operator mentioning avalanche conditions as "CONSIDERABLE."

 

[Killclimbz]

Well in this case a beacon may have been great at recovering the body.

The victim appeared to have been killed by traumatic injuries.

Avalanche awareness is such a hard thing to get across to people who have no experience with it. Even those who have experience get caught.

5 snowmobilers died over the weekend also. That user group has more than double the avalanche deaths this year when compared to all other user groups combined.

Things are touchy all around the west. Sad that this family had to learn firsthand how deadly it can be.

RIP.

 

[riverc0il]

Avalanche awareness is such a hard thing to get across to people who have no experience with it. Even those who have experience get caught.

i would love to see some data on this, but i would suspect the average person caught in an avalanche probably does have avalanche experience and/or knowledge.

the article indicates ample warning of danger was provided including a report near the gate. unfortunately, there is a price to pay for ignorance and/or disregarding warnings when not familiar with the hazards.

 

[Sharon]

Your stats are avaiable on
http://www.avalanche.org/av-reports/index.html and
http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/Accidents ... s06-07.htm

If you read the reports, you'll see that it seems that most of the people were not aware or prepared.

 

[ricks]

It's things like this web-site and especially the Utah Avalanche Center that keep a Yahoo like me out of places that I don't belong. Thank You for this. I wonder how many Easterners that ski the west pay attention to this information? Much prayers and condolences to the family and friends of this young man.

 

[Killclimbz]

Avalanche awareness is such a hard thing to get across to people who have no experience with it. Even those who have experience get caught.

i would love to see some data on this, but i would suspect the average person caught in an avalanche probably does have avalanche experience and/or knowledge.

the article indicates ample warning of danger was provided including a report near the gate. unfortunately, there is a price to pay for ignorance and/or disregarding warnings when not familiar with the hazards.

I agree there is warnings out there. For some they don't realize what those warnings mean until a loved one is buried and gone.

As far as unprepared. The trend was that your avalanche victim was more likely to be experienced and have backcountry knowledge than no experience. Those are the people who are spending their time out there so they are more likely to encounter that situation. Even the best have been caught. A Colorado Avalanche Forecaster had a close call three years ago in the San Juans.

The trend has been changing as of the last couple of years, mostly due to snowmobilers. The rising popularity, highmarking, and lack of avy knowledge has really brought this group to the front of avalanche incidents. I think a few years back snowboarders were the ones getting slaughtered. Now it's 'bilers.

Avalanches really don't care if you are experienced or not. Your chances of getting caught increase with your days in the backcountry. Something I try to keep in mind as I spend 90% of my time riding in the bc.