Alpental tragedy

Very, very sad for all those involved....<br><br>Snowboarder dies at Alpental ski area<br>Full story: <br> seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews...ebsnowboarder08.html


The Associated Press
SNOQUALMIE PASS – A snowboarder has died from an accident on a closed
run at the Alpental ski area, officials said.

The 30-year-old man was reported missing by friends after he failed to
meet them when the lift closed Wednesday night, and he was later found
unconscious in a tree well, a hole in the snow at the base of a tree,
Alpental spokesman Jon Pretty said.

The man was pronounced dead after being flown to Harborview Medical
Center in Seattle.

It was the second death this season at ski areas in the state. A skier
went over a cliff Nov. 27 at Mount Baker.

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I was wondering if this was a TAYer.....hope not.<br><br>This is another reminder to me that those closed signs mean something.....same deal as Baker. It so early in the season, I hope people start to pay attention.<br><br>I'll be thinking about this guy the next time I go out, and the next time I think about a solo trip. I wouldn't want to do that to my children.

I was wondering if this was a TAYer.....hope not.<br><br>This is another reminder to me that those closed signs mean something.....same deal as Baker. It so early in the season, I hope people start to pay attention.<br><br>I'll be thinking about this guy the next time I go out, and the next time I think about a solo trip. I wouldn't want to do that to my children.

<br><br>The Times report doesn't mention that he was found out of bounds -- usually the ski area will emphasize this when something bad happens out of bounds. A death like this could easily happen skiing/riding the trees in-bounds -- there are a number of places -- even off of the quad at Alpental where this could happen.<br><br>Ski with a buddy! Don't just plan on meeting up at the lift line -- make visual contact frequently.<br>

seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews...2673344_dige09m.html <br><br>Snowboarder dies after rescue<br><br><br>A 30-year-old snowboarder was found unconscious at the Alpental Ski Area on Wednesday night and later died at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.<br><br>The man was reported missing by two friends just before 7 p.m., said Summit at Snoqualmie spokesman Jon Pretty. Members of the Alpental Ski Patrol looked for him, and two members found him just after 8 p.m. in a steep area with trees on a double-diamond run that was closed because of lack of snow, Pretty said.<br><br>The ski patrol members began CPR and used a toboggan to take the man to medics, who then drove him to a spot where he could be airlifted to Harborview, he said. It was unclear whether the man died en route to the hospital or after he arrived there, Pretty said. "There were no signs of physical trauma," Pretty said, citing information from Bellevue fire medics.<br><br>As of Thursday, the King County Medical Examiner's Office had not released the man's identity or cause of death, pending an autopsy, a death investigator said.<br><br>

Happened in closed run, not out of bounds (shot 6). Ski areas can split hairs a bit.

This was my brother.  I know this is years later, but want to set it straight and let you know about the memorial foundation in his memory.  www.thedavidpettigrewmemorialfoundation.com

Just to clearify any confussion, he was in bounds, and was on shot six where he was helping ski patrol clear the mountain.  Although the run was not open that day, he was with ski patrol and it was open to him at the time.....nevertheless, the key point is it can happen anytime anywhere, please be carefull and thoughtful at all times. Here is a statement by the pass issued 6 months after his passing:

community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/arch...60618&slug=apology18


check out my other post and see what the foundation is doing to remember him and protect us all.....thanks.

hope we can make some good from his passing....