Tragic avalanche news

The latest news indicates that search efforts are centered on the Union Ck drainage, east and below Bullion Peak - with  focus on finding a possible shelter constructed somewhere in that basin.  This Thursday morning the search enters day 4.  Certainly not good news, but if the three are in a shelter, there is still hope for survival.
I've been deeply troubled by both the Crystal and Snoqualmie accidents, as to why intelligent people get into trouble like this.  The Snoqualmie accident seems likely attributable to incomplete avalanche knowledge, of having little understanding of the avalanche triangle, of the interaction of terrain, snowpack and weather.  As well as the failure to understand the impact of a major storm bearing down on the area, and the prodigious amounts of snow able to accumulate in a relatively short time.  Remember that the Snoqualmie area in a convergence zone situation can accumulate double the forecasted accumulations in a relatively short time, certainly under 24 hrs.  So the avalanche hazard skyrocketed before the party could get out.  Probably their only hope was to have stayed put, stayed on the Snow Lake divide ridgetop, or deep in the trees, until the storm abated, hazard dropped and snow stabilized.
As for the Crystal situation, assuming the three had avalanche education, I surmise that their actual experience with avalanches was probably limited.  I'm not saying this in a critical manner, but instead saying that their ability to perceive the scope of the potential avalanche hazard was limited.  Most of us unfortunate enough to be involved in an avalanche only survive them if they are Class 1 (sloughs) or if lucky, Class 2 (usally big enough to bury and kill us).  Few of us, unless avalanche pro's at an avalanche prone ski area (like Alpental, Crystal, Stevens or Baker), ever experience firsthand the devastation and complete power of Class 3 or 4 (let alone Class 5) avalanches - which are capable of wiping out swaths of forest and taking out buildings.  This is particularly critical when deciding where a safe spot might be, whether it be a spot to hold up midslope while taking a run, or a spot to erect a tent or snow shelter for the evening.  With the amount of snow falling on the crests, combined with the hellish winds, I can easily imagine 3-5' crown slabs forming on the eastern, lee slopes.  Such avalanches, particularly when comprised of heavy, rain-sodden new snow, can be almost unimaginably destructive.  And most of our experiences, and therefore ability to conceptualize and perceive, don't prepare us or allow us to comprehend that devastating potential.  Your thoughts?  I think it is extremely important to understand these kind of events and accidents, as they are critical to our future safe travel, and fun, in the backcountry.  Meanwhile, I'm still holding out hope for the three.  Gerry Haugen

The current situation at Crystal makes me think I should have gotten into Search and Rescue at some point in my life. I sent a note to the poster who asked for information in the recent Bullion Basin threads offering help, but I have no specific information about this incident. If anyone involved in the SAR effort can think of ways that we in the TAY community can help, please let us know. I suspect that, in general, organized SAR teams do not want help from volunteers who haven't been screened and trained, but what do I know?

Hello Lowell,
An earlier posting by the Tacoma News Tribune explained that Tacoma and Everett SAR, a Sheriff helicopter and Crystal propatrol were actively engaged in the search, and then specifically stated that volunteers are not being used or requested.  This seems to be a typical response, probably as much as anything to limit the danger and not get into a wild management problem.  The same thing happened Dec 13, 2003 when the Mushroom Couloir avalanche swept the snowshoer into the creekbed and buried her.  Although there were close to 18 search-trained and avalanche educated Mountaineer ski leaders, and a professional guide, in the proximity, their offer of help to the Sheriff directed, Alpental partrol staffed rescue squad was declined.  In that incident it would seem like additional probers would have been welcome.  All available had beacons, probes & shovels!  Go figure.
Gerry

this reminded me of the TAY thread from a few months ago about joining the Cascade Backcountry Ski Patrol

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...dex.php?topic=7794.0

I don't know if this group is involved in the current Crystal Mtn SAR efforts, but it could be worth contacting them to see about joining up in order to be available for future SAR needs? 

Here is a link to the latest update as of Thursday afternoon
www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/222722.html

The avalanche on the Snow Lake mission occurred on Sunday afternoon, not Saturday. The party was trying to descend from the ridge, following what they thought was the safest route since they were indeed concerned about avalanches. I didn’t get all the way to the avalanche path, so I can’t describe the characteristics of the path and the snow pack had changed dramatically due to the rain and high temperatures in the two days following the slide. Trees played a major part in the trauma sustained by the victims.

I can’t speak to the avalanche training of any of the individuals and to speculate would be fruitless, although I will point out that some research has shown that there is a positive correlation between avalanche education and avalanche accidents, oddly enough. It would be best to wait until the survivor chooses to share his story with the public. I have been on enough missions to know, that information from the news media (and blogs) is insufficient to base any meaningful conclusions about what happened, and is often erroneous to boot. The best sources are the accident reports and statements by witnesses/survivors and those are not always available. I hope there will be one done and posted on the NWAC site.

Lowell – the answer to your question about what TAY can do for the ongoing search is not much at the moment. By state law Search and Rescue (SAR) operations fall to the county sheriffs along with a set of minimum and ongoing training requirements for SAR volunteers. SAR volunteers have to meet federal (thank you homeland security!  ), state and county requirements. See the link below for the details. For the current mission at Crystal, they are further restricting participation to those SAR members who are avalanche trained and are current in their helicopter certification and are willing to be hot loaded and inserted into the backcountry in not only difficult terrain, but dicey weather.

The sheriffs have to know that everyone they deploy will have a standard amount of training, additional qualifications according to their units, plus the necessary equipment, including radios. It is not possible for them to manage volunteers who aren’t part of the system, because there is no organizational system to support them, nor do they meet the state qualifications to be used in the field. Nobody likes to turn away skilled outdoors people from helping in a rescue, but that is what they have to do in order to manage the scene and to comply with the law. The sheriff’s first duty is to the safety of the rescuers.

If people are questioning the reasoning about not using volunteers, silly rules and regulations aside, look at it this way. Just because someone is a highly skilled skier, climber, hiker, etc., doesn’t mean that they posses good avalanche decision making, right? It is not so different with SAR missions. SAR involves another set of skills and experience, and while they can relate, they don’t necessarily correlate with your outdoor ability or experience.

Having said that, it is possible to become a qualified SAR member by joining one of the nine volunteer SAR units in King County. Check out the umbrella organization King County Search and Rescue Association for more information. kcsara.org . There was an earlier post with great information about joining the Cascade Backcountry Patrol, from which you then can join the Ski Patrol Rescue Team. It is a serious time commitment, I won’t deny that; but does provide a way to combine your love of skiing with public service.

Short of signing away your life to ski patrolling and/or SAR, the next thing I would recommend is supporting the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center through the Friends, particularly their educational efforts. I also think mentoring less experienced snow travelers, on avalanche decision-making while you are out with them, is an invaluable way of spreading knowledge through the community. Nothing beats the example of a respected skier/boarder/rider of saying “you know, I think we should pass on this slope and save it for another day” or “what does everyone think about this slope and what is influencing our judgment?” I know it is frustrating to be stuck here in town, wanting to help find these guys and appreciate wanting to know what you can do.