In Praise of Helmets

My helmet sometimes remains in my car.  Why?  I'm not sure, but I will never leave it there again. 

Yesterday, while skiing Bear Pits, at Crystal I attempted to thread-the-needle between two stunted pines.  In doing so I snagged a submerged limb.  Off came my ski and and I took a header- literally - into the trunk of a tree.  The back of my head, or rather the back of my helmet, smacked that trunk squarely.  Based on the way my neck and shoulders feel today, and on the way my head felt when it struck that tree, I am certain that had I not been wearing my helmet I would have sustained some serious injuries.  If I ever leave my helmet in the car again I deserve whatever traumatic brain injury I get.  Please consider the risks before skiing w/o a helmet.  I'm glad I made the decision to wear mine yesterday. 

Sound like we all had an adventurous day at Crystal yesterday.

Last year while attempting a high traverse in the Bear Pits with JW and JEN, I had a spectacular fall off the traverse, hit my head on some rocks on the way down and was momentarily knocked out, ripped my super steezy yellow pants and twisted my knee.

Two days of groggy head, a visit to the doctor and concussion has made me wear my helmet most of the time.
I still hate it but I'm wearing it.
My steezy yellow pants recovered as well.

My brain bucket keeps my head warm...

Keep in mind also, that some avy deaths can be attributed to the victim losing consciousness from head trama.... avy pushes you into rocks, etc. 

Once you start falling down a steep slope, you are just a ballistic object...  and so is your head.

Glad you guys are OK. I had a looooooog slide at Squaw that finally got me to buy a helmet a few years back - hard, icy old snow conditions in steep timber. I went over the handle bars and kept going until I steered into a soft spot 400 vf later.

What do folks like for lighter weight 'BC helmets'? I have Boeri and think its great for in bounds, but something lighter would be nice.

Also, very glad to hear that Stewart is OK. Tree wells are very under rated as an objective hazard.

I'd love to wear a helmet for BC use but they are super heavy. I can see the obvious need for the downhill part but going uphill through stretches you were concerned about would be a good time for a helmet as well. Obviously not super breathable but neither is dying.

What about using a bike helmet? Better than nothing or just for show? Is there something way better out there?

What about using a bike helmet? Better than nothing or just for show? Is there something way better out there?

I don't believe bike helmets are rated for the type of impact you would be likely to incur and could maybe cause more damage (?) Somewhere in time, I saw a chart of helmet safety ratings based on impact, types of impact, etc. maybe someone else has seen something like this?