Avalanche kills skier at Jackson Hole

[MichaelJ]

From the AP newswire:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hC0t6YTXWxsexnFT97Qw5Nu_G1PgD95C30O80

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort spokeswoman Anna Olson says David Nodine, of Wilson, was skiing down an expert trail with a companion Saturday when the avalanche buried him under 8 feet of snow. The companion was not injured. Olson says ski patrollers found Nodine within six minutes but could not revive him. The 31-year-old was pronounced dead at a clinic at the resort base.

 

[twinplanx]

Either one wearing a beacon?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Either one wearing a beacon?

The one killed was wearing a Beacon and apparently a ski patroller saw the whole thing go down but didn't rescue him in time. Apparently the November rain crust will be an issue to contend with all season. Scary stuff and Toilet Bowl is an area that is frequently skied and near the Thunder chair..

So sad..thousands of skiers and riders had an Epic powder day and one died in an Avalanche..

 

[BLESS]

I guess htere was another one today, that hit a restaurant...blew chairs right thru the windows.

 

[skiing is life]

ffs...to many avalcnhes this season. hell even wisp got one!:-o

 

[Trekchick]

The incident on Saturday goes as follows......The skier was wearing a beacon and was located within 6 minutes, dug out within 10 minutes. There is speculation that it was the trauma impact from the avalanche that was critical.
JH has been diligent in avalanche control, but this season seems to be crazy

Bless, I saw a report as you posted, which also included that the patrol shack was burried. The patroller inside was rescued without injury.

This snow is being described as Plywood on Ball Bearings.

For those traveling to these risky areas, be careful.
Here is a blog about JH.
http://bkrugh.blogspot.com/2008/12/jackson-hole-headwall-avalanche.html

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Todays avalanche was massive..

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145375

 

[Trekchick]

They put a cover over the web cam for that area, shortly after the slide.
http://www.jacksonhole.com/webcam/br.jpg

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

ffs...to many avalcnhes this season. hell even wisp got one!:-o

I hope there are alot more avalanches..that means it's freaking dumping..you take the good with the bad,,.

 

[rachelv]

Todays avalanche was massive..

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145375

Some pretty amazing pics here:
http://www.tetonat.com/archives/675/headwall-avalanche-at-jackson-hole-mountain-resort/

 

[Trekchick]

Teton/AT has an article and photo.

 

[prisnah]

I hope there are alot more avalanches..that means it's freaking dumping..you take the good with the bad,,.

No it doesn't. It means that there is a weak layer in the snowpack and something, snow, skier, or otherwise triggered a slide. I can't believe you said that you hope there are more avalanches. Think about what you say before you say it. Theres been a lot of tragedy this season already and here you are mocking it. Woulda sucked if that was you at JH though huh?

 

[bvibert]

Some pretty amazing pics here:
http://www.tetonat.com/archives/675/headwall-avalanche-at-jackson-hole-mountain-resort/

Wow! Thanks for the link, crazy pics!

 

[jonhere]

those pics are amazing. I ate lunch in the exact table that is covered in snow last year! I didn't catch what time the avalanche happened? There are usually dozens of people standing right there at any given time since it is right at the top of the gondi. Amazing more people were not involved. What a tragedy.

 

[snoseek]

Oh man this is starting to get nasty. Way too many avies happening lately. Snowmobilers also killed Near Grand Lake, Co. Every time I put the news theres another story. The inbounds stuff it what bothers me the most, snowpack is total crap everywhere. I'm not touring or doing any kind of slack-country for quite some time. Sad sad news.

 

[jaywbigred]

Wow. Those pictures from JH were insane.

The season's total avie related deaths have to already be up there already, esp. in terms of in-bounds accidents. Anyone know what it is right now, for North America?

That has to be some pretty crappy snowpack all over the Rockies/sub-ranges. Be careful out there.

 

[davidhowland14]

before the latest string (Fernie, CO) it was at three. It's gotta be more than that now, though, maybe double?

and GSS...can't believe you said that. :sad:

everyone stay safe out there.

 

[ski9]

No it doesn't. It means that there is a weak layer in the snowpack and something, snow, skier, or otherwise triggered a slide. I can't believe you said that you hope there are more avalanches. Think about what you say before you say it. Theres been a lot of tragedy this season already and here you are mocking it. Woulda sucked if that was you at JH though huh?

Next time you tell your neighbor you hope it pours, don't forget how many people in India just died in a flood. Jesus Christ, he didn't say he hoped more suicide bombers drove by a school and detonated. I have a place in Wilson because it feels like your at the edge of civilization. Now, tell me how you never drive 70mph in a 55mph zone...you know how many more people died in the last 30 minutes because of what you actually do than in a decade of avi's? Pffftt....

PS
I LOVE to surf when hurricanes make a u-turn and bend away, leaving us with 12 ft overheads. Yeah, that sucks for some people.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

before the latest string (Fernie, CO) it was at three. It's gotta be more than that now, though, maybe double?

and GSS...can't believe you said that. :sad:

everyone stay safe out there.

Weren't you just making fun of people with Tourettes??? When we go skiing we have to deal with the risks involved..you could be killed by an avalanche, on the drive to the mountain, by an out of control skier....the chairlift or gondola could fall off the wire. All the risks make you want to just lay in bed all day but what if the ceilling collapses on you???

I didn't mean anything bad by my comments..I just hope it keeps dumping in the Rockies so my trip to Jackson Hole in 3+ weeks in EPIC..

 

[davidhowland14]

Next time you tell your neighbor you hope it pours, don't forget how many people in India just died in a flood. Jesus Christ, he didn't say he hoped more suicide bombers drove by a school and detonated. I have a place in Wilson because it feels like your at the edge of civilization. Now, tell me how you never drive 70mph in a 55mph zone...you know how many more people died in the last 30 minutes because of what you actually do than in a decade of avi's? Pffftt....

PS
I LOVE to surf when hurricanes make a u-turn and bend away, leaving us with 12 ft overheads. Yeah, that sucks for some people.

mmk. If he'd said that he hopes it snows more, I'd merely have thought it was in slightly bad taste. What he said was that he wants more avalanches. A thread about a fatal avalanches it not the right place to say you want more avalanches/snow. It's just bad taste. It's an example of when you should think before you post.

If this thread was about how a hurricane had destroyed a town in cuba, would you post here saying you want more hurricanes? You probably would actually.

Next time you go to argue something, make sure your argument makes sense, too. What does speeding have to do with this? Maybe you should sit out the next couple plays.

Weren't you just making fun of people with Tourettes??? When we go skiing we have to deal with the risks involved..you could be killed by an avalanche, on the drive to the mountain, by an out of control skier....the chairlift or gondola could fall off the wire. All the risks make you want to just lay in bed all day but what if the ceilling collapses on you???

I didn't mean anything bad by my comments..I just hope it keeps dumping in the Rockies so my trip to Jackson Hole in 3+ weeks in EPIC..

I know you didn't mean anything bad. And accepting the risks of skiing is just fine. I gladly do it every time I ski. It also has nothing to do with what you posted. How would you feel if you were a patroller caught in this slide or a family member of the person who was killed at Jackson earlier in the season and you saw someone saying they wished it would avalanche more?