avalanche safety

[danlast]

the terrain is located just outside the ski area. he was probably less than three minutes from getting off a lift. he went through a backcountry acess point. ive never been to the actual area where he was killed "the fingers" but from what i hear its just a few chutes through a massive cliff band. we are under a red flag avalance warning but people were still going out there. i was working the base lift that serves the lift that serves the gate. i heard from my bottom guy that there was an avalanche and someone was dead. i know the guys who found and unburied him. they were just in the area and going back for a second lap when they saw the fresh slide path. they did their becon search and found him. i guess once they unburied him there was nothing they could do. it being such a small town i knew i was going to be connected to the victim in some way. i still cant believe it was him. such a good rider and person in general. he had all the gear too. his airbag was shreaded. tragic. chiller, where was that on TGR?

[chiller]

there were are two threads about the telluride avalanche one in slide zone and the other in ski/snowboard

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/238947-Avy-death-at-Telluride

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/238945-Telluride-Avalanche-Death

so sorry that you all lost someone close, sucks. yea the shredded airbag and he had an avalung too?? trauma is the one you can't protect against I guess.

[ben418]

that's a good reason why i'm working to make my leash work good to save life.

[JAM]

It's good to have the safety gear, but I worry that having all the gear will provide an elevated sense of protection.  This might cause someone to head into terrain that they wouldn't normally venture without it.

[chiller]

yea that's the arguement against. I'm not sure how much my backcountry partners practice with their beacons and review their safe backcountry but I'm guessing not as much as they should. An airbag is going to make you easier to locate.

Would you consider going into the backcountry without a beacon? I'm guessing not but a beacon is not a safety device it is a locating device and yet we all feel safer with one on.

I think in general people are already heading into terrain that they shouldn't be in. When you go through a level I or II avi class you learn that they can happen almost anywhere that is over 25 degrees in steepness. They don't often happen in this low of pitch but you can never fully be 100 percent sure that your backcountry decision and route finding will keep you safe. An airbag is a simple way to buy yourself a little more cushion against unlucky choices. I'm sure people will push it further with an airbag and many will die because of it but they probably would have taken those same chances without an airbag, it all depends on your level of risk I believe.

[ben418]

the leash i'm the only one to have it for now look like mark maybe the next to own one. i'm working with the best guides in the world and i only ride backcountry.. i have to do my avalanche training every 2 week and checking the tempeture change and the snow pack before going to ride is the key for a safe ride.
the leash like mark said is only to help you stay on top or not to deep in to the avalanche.
as soon that your in the backcountry there's a rick.