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Avi kills 2...on ski trail

thetrailboss

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Very sad. Condolences to the family. In bounds avalanches out here are a reality and occur every once in a blue moon despite many, many efforts to mitigate them. They are, unfortunately, an inherent risk of the sport. It is always a good idea to get some basic avalanche training and to be able to "read" ski terrain for avalanche risks.
 
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1dog

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hiked/skied Ammonusuc Ravine from summit to car just after the slide there - 2010 maybe? I've never seen such force on woods - full grown trees uprooted and thrown down like toothpicks - 100' or more wide.

Always wanted to take a class at Pinkham Notch AMC camp.

Lots of information on You Tube but seeing, experiencing the snow slicing and identifying the various layers and densities. Its a science thats fascinating to me.
 

machski

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hiked/skied Ammonusuc Ravine from summit to car just after the slide there - 2010 maybe? I've never seen such force on woods - full grown trees uprooted and thrown down like toothpicks - 100' or more wide.

Always wanted to take a class at Pinkham Notch AMC camp.

Lots of information on You Tube but seeing, experiencing the snow slicing and identifying the various layers and densities. Its a science thats fascinating to me.
And even once you gain all that knowledge, you still need to add in location specific knowledge to really reduce the risk (IE, type of actual earth terrain below the run, local wind patterns for how snow loads on said face of run, any stream/waterflow undermining etc, etc). They have come a long way with stabilizing safety inbounds but it's still not perfect. Many skilled skiers still get killed OB each year, be it slack country or twice Backcountry.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using AlpineZone mobile app
 

FBGM

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Personal Summery by Bill Fuzak
Avalanche burial at Silver Mountain Ski Area / Wardner Traverse / 16 to 1 run
On Tuesday Jan 7, 2020 around 11 AM I was involved in and consequently fully buried for approximately 50 minutes in an inbounds avalanche at Silver Mountain Ski and Snowboard Park. The avalanche occurred in a recently opened part of the ski area where over 20 inches of new snow had fallen in two days.
I was part of a group of 10+ skiers and boarders that had entered the Wardner Traverse area and started setting a ski packed path on the Traverse. We had been waiting for the rope to drop for the area and entered the traverse only after the closed sign had been removed and with a Silver Mountain Ski Patrol member giving the verbal ok to “start cutting the traverse ourselves or wait for a Ski Patroller to break trail on the traverse”. I personally heard the conversation with the 3 lead skiers and the patroller as I was the 4th person going out onto the newly cut traverse. Our understanding was avalanche mitigation with explosive charges had been completed off the top of Wardner Peak before skiers and boarders entered the then uncut traverse.
The going was slow and all but 6 or 7 riders of the original group dropped into glades prior to reaching the run named 16 to 1. The three lead skiers dropped in to ski the fresh snow about a third of the way across 16 to1. The rest of us, appx 4 or 5 people, dropped in closer to the tree edge. After only one or two turns the snow started to fracture above us as well as below us and the slide started to propagate and accelerate. I heard a female voice over my right shoulder, I think it was Rebecca, say calmly that “it’s giving way, try to stay on top”. I lost my left ski almost immediately and fell backwards while trying to release my right ski to no avail. A few seconds later while swimming to try and stay on top of the slide it slowed and pulled me down completely under the snow. As the moving snow ground to a halt and compressed around me I started punching upwards with my right fist to create an air hole above me. I was able to successfully reach the surface with my right fist and then started creating space around my mouth and face to get air. When I had air flowing unobstructed into the hole I had created I started waving my gloved hand out the air hole hoping someone would see me. I also shouted for help for several seconds before calming down. I was glad to have air and thought I had a good chance to be rescued.
Within seconds, another, more powerful slide hit and buried my breathing hole under what felt like feet of snow. I heard and felt the snow compress around me and I was unable to move anything but my right hand to clear my face and mouth. At this point I tried to calm my breathing and conserve air. I don’t know how long I stayed conscious after that. I had already relegated myself to the inevitable as I knew the air would not last long. I was in no pain and knew I wasn’t injured. I’m really surprised how calm I felt but knew there was nothing I could do but wait and pray.
The first thing I remember when coming back to consciousness was a group of rescuers cheering that a survivor had been located, me. I cannot express the surprise and relief I felt to hear and see other people digging me out. Ski patroller Bill held my hand and helped keep me calm as he and the others helped dig me out as I was buried upright in the deep snow. Apparently, my lips were blue when they unburied me and I was initially unconscious. My hands and feet were extremely cold but I was uninjured, breathing and moving well. I was elated to still be “here”. I was more than ready to get out of my encasement, afraid that a 3rd slide would bury me again. Bill asked me about other members of the party I was aware of. I thought there were at least 3 others buried in my general vicinity. I believe Ski Patroller Maya Pardue found me with her probe then other volunteers came over to help dig me out. Maya, thanks for sticking to it, finding me and consequently saving my life. I am eternally grateful to you and your group of patrollers.
During and after extrication Patroller Bill checked me over and concluded I was not severely injured. I was able to walk and with help load into a toboggan attached to a snowmobile. A snowmobile driver and Ski Patroller Bill transported me down to the snow cat maintenance facility to be checked out by local medical professionals and warmed up. I sat with and spoke with another rescued local skier named Ken who had also been buried for 50 minutes. He also survived by creating an air space and through the incredible efforts of Ski Patrol and other volunteers on scene. I was interviewed extensively by the Sheriff as well as the head of Silver Mountain Ski Patrol in the Ski patrol office.
I cannot give enough thanks and compliments for the effort shown by the Silver Mountain Ski Patrol, Search and Rescue volunteers as well as other skiers and riders that played a role in saving my life and the other riders lives. My family especially wants to thank them all for saving us. My heart goes out to the families of the two riders that did not survive.
Sincerely,
Bill Fuzak
 

KustyTheKlown

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welp, absolute worst nightmare shit.

i've skied plenty of steep powder terrain in the west just after ropes dropped.

terrifying.
 

FBGM

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Still 1 missing. Odd to not be found yet with probe and dogs. Sounds like a pretty horrible and hectic situation. So hard when you have no idea who or how many or where in a large slide. Worst case shit right there.
 

jimk

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FBGM, thanks for posting full statement. Had seen brief video of this guy, but this has more detail. This scenario is scary for all of us who ski in avalanche country.
Eyeopeners:
- in-bounds avi incidents seem to be happening a bit more frequently
- Silver Mtn is not on most folks list of places of concern for this sort of thing
- how did some of these survivors live after 50 minutes @ ten feet under? Something about this snow/slide must have had more air pockets than most??
- have you hugged your ski patrol today?
952438565_snowbirdmadelinepatroler.thumb.jpg.ca70c0610a281c30ff1c8762a7c51b1f.jpg


Never been in an avalanche. Have seen from afar a few underway that were started by mitigation bombs, also skied in/near avi debris after the fact. Place that most scared me on this subject was standing at base of Highland Bowl and looking back up at steep, snow covered mountain faces surrounding you on three sides.
 
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kingslug

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Zermatt a few years ago we were doing good staying close to the runs, in the trees, etc. Most of the people were sticking to the boring groomers. we split into 2 groups the next day and hired 2 guides. We ended up OK, waiting in a lodge in the middle of the place..the whole ridgeline came down a few minutes later..almost on top of the other group...they managed to ski away after the guide started ..screaming.
They didn't ski the next day...spooky scene as they came in covered in snow from the blast...then the helis showed up...
 
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