In-bounds avalanche at Snowbird

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Word has it that North Baldy slid today, trapping one victim who was airlifted to the University of Utah Medical Center. No word on the victim's condition. I'm working on getting details.
 
I skied HBT about four or five minutes pre avalanche. More details to come after I've digested this.
 
From the story at http://www.firsttracksonline.com/News/2 ... ki-Resort/ which has now been updated:

A separate backcountry avalanche near Lake Desolation, just west of the Park City ridgeline in Big Cottonwood Canyon was also reported this afternoon. The area is immediately behind the summit of Ninety-Nine 90 at The Canyons but is located outside of the ski area. One victim was reportedly trapped, but rescued by skiing companions. No word is available regarding the rescued skier's condition.

Also, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center is reporting that a small slide in-bounds in Vail's Blue Sky Basin buried an unidentified skier up to his waist, but who was left unhurt. The avalanche, which ran 150 vertical feet and was 150 feet wide, fractured to a depth of three feet. The incident occurred on the Lover's Leap run and was reported to authorities at 10:51 a.m. Vail's ski patrol performed avalanche control work in that area at 9 a.m. this morning after receiving a foot of new snow. Resort officials closed Blue Sky Basin for the day following the incident, but the area is expected to reopen Monday following additional avalanche prevention efforts.
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small slide in-bounds in Vail's Blue Sky Basin
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Yikes! That's a little too close to home. Fortunately spent the weekend at Copper instead of Vail. TR hopefully soon.
 
gonna be a scary snowpack for some time this season.
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Like last year, it starts dumping after a sustained early season drought. So I presume there's a weak layer that can cause trouble for awhile.
 
Tony Crocker":ntyikdnx said:
gonna be a scary snowpack for some time this season.
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Like last year, it starts dumping after a sustained early season drought. So I presume there's a weak layer that can cause trouble for awhile.
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There are severely faceted layers laying beneath the new snow.
 
I decided to remove my post from last night. Not sure if posting pictures when someone is killed is appropriate. If anyone would like to see what the rescue looked like you can send me a message and I'll send a link to the page. Thanks, Matt
 
mbaydala":3j65kqby said:
as I’m writing this email my adrenaline is still pumping and my knees are still shaking.
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Matt, I can only imagine. So glad that you and Katie weren't swept up in it. I'm amazed that given its size it snagged only one.
 
Sorry to hear what happened yesterday. Reading your story really brought it home to me Matt, I know what it feels like to attempt to rescue people - and fail. Not a good feeling. Glad you're alright. My wife and I will pray for the victims of this tragedy.
 
thats it...beacons on at all times. Actually this was the first weekend I didnt just put it on.

Very sad...very sad indeed...

Mbaydala...insane that you were right there and had been skiing the terrain for some time without it sliding. You too Salida...

My thoughts are with her family.

M
 
Disclaimer: Sorry for this really ghoulish and insensitive question, but someone at my office just asked me, and I didn't have an answer.

When someone goes OOB, even a few yards, and it slides, the resort isn't legally responsible. What happens when something like this happens inbounds? Does it fall under the "skiing is an inherently dangerous sport" fine print or will the lawyers go after Snowbird?
 
jamesdeluxe":2eys8raa said:
When someone goes OOB, even a few yards, and it slides, the resort isn't legally responsible. What happens when something like this happens inbounds? Does it fall under the "skiing is an inherently dangerous sport" fine print or will the lawyers go after Snowbird?
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Well, first off there's nothing to prevent anyone from going after anyone, whether or not the action is meritorious. However, 1) the answer will vary from state to state, depending upon the state's assumption of risk laws and ski statutes; and 2) it would need to be shown that the resort acted negligently, and that this negligence resulted in the damages sustained by the claimant. The level of negligence required to meet this burden of proof would depend upon the answer to #1, above.
 
There have been 2 in-bounds slides at Telluride so far this year after the 17" and 14" storms in the last week.

First, there was a slide on Bald Mt. that a someone skied away from - but was carried for a bit.

Second, there was a slide on Spiral Stairs - with a 3-5' crown remaining. This is typically a compacted bump run.

Nonetheless, it's a very sketchy out there from the stretch of warmth & drought in mid/late November. Given this layer & more snow, an in-bounds beacon not a bad idea.


Also, Telluride mgt finally seems to understand the gravity of the situation of their new lift & the Bear Creek backcountry - now sidecountry. It's too easily accessible. People are predicting a fatality back there this year - I am more on the pessimistic side and think it's going to be an entire group.
 
Shouldn't Telluride put up gates and have them formally closed or open and require gear even when open? The Jackson Hole backcountry policy since 2000 has worked well from what I've read.
 
Tony Crocker":1jujn8d2 said:
Shouldn't Telluride put up gates and have them formally closed or open and require gear even when open? The Jackson Hole backcountry policy since 2000 has worked well from what I've read.
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The Telluride policy is a little different, but perhaps should change...

Telluride Ski Resort, in partnership with the US Forest Service, has an "open gate" policy. We have a backcountry access gate at the top of Gold Hill (Bear Creek access) and another one in the saddle before Bald Mountain (Alta access) which allows the public to exit the ski area boundary closure and venture into the backcountry - while assuming the inherent risks of skiing in areas that do not receive any avalanche control work and are not managed by our ski patrol.

An open gate policy is not to be confused with skiing under a rope or past a closed sign - both of which are illegal. To access the backcountry one MUST go through a designated gate only. There is signage at the gate which informs you that by going through the gate you are assuming the risks associated with skiing outside the permit boundary and rescue may not be possible in the event of an injury or avalanche burial. The ski resort has no obligation to perform a search and rescue in the backcountry and we will not put patrollers at risk to perform search and rescue work in dangerous avalanche conditions.

For those who are educated, experienced, and prepared with the proper equipment (backpack, shovel, avalanche beacon, probe, climbing skins, ski mountaineering equipment, extra clothing, food, water, cell phone, etc.), the backcountry can be a wonderful experience (at the right times).

We certainly would not recommend heading out into the backcountry with out significant experience, a partner familiar with the terrain, and lots of savvy. Knowledge and awareness of snow stability is also critical. There are times when the backcountry snowpack is naturally stable and other times when it is suicidal to travel in the backcountry. Additionally, super strong skiing skills are obviously necessary due to all sorts of variable conditions and the extreme terrain encountered.
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