Sierra BC Ski Avy Fatality

From TTips. (Sierra Ski Conditions Thread)

www.kcra.com/news/18778091/detail.html#

I hope no one here was a friend of this poor fellow. Condolences.

Saturday was great skiing nearby, we saw the storm headed into the area. Sunday's storm was warm and very breezy. During my week in the Tahoe area I saw many solo backcountry skiers, seemed odd to me, but my friends there said it is normal.

Interesting the sheriff's spokesman only advises telling someone where you are going. I'm sure their LE/S&R runs a relatively similar # of snow rescues as our's do here in the PNW; seem's like the PNW officials have a different warning down pat to be given posthumously, e.g. "partners, beacon, etc".

Institutional difference (area avy centers messaging), or just cultural (relative to BC community/attitude?

Here's another sad one

Man-Rescued-Wife-Dead-After-Spending-10-Days-Out-of-Bounds-at-Kicking-Horse-Ski-Resor

I heard about this from a friend and there are lots of things still unclear about it. It seems he was a 39 year old local contractor from SLT, not sure about his backcountry experience. Because of the amount of ski resorts in the area, most people who venture out in the backcountry tend to be on the more educated side. It seems to me he just overlooked the potential danger as Maggies peak, where he was found, is just a short hike from the road. Some people have been critical of his choice to go solo, but as long as you know the danger and accept the risk it shouldn't be a problem. Sad story for sure.

Here's another sad one

Man-Rescued-Wife-Dead-After-Spending-10-Days-Out-of-Bounds-at-Kicking-Horse-Ski-Resor

This one is crazy. Apparently the moral of the story is, if you think you might get lost out of bounds, make sure to rent some skis so their failure to get returned will trigger a search and rescue. I have lot of respect for SAR people, but in this case, what were they thinking?

"No ground search was initiated until yesterday, despite two reports from heli-ski guides and pilots of distress signals carved in the snow as much as a week earlier.

"According to a statement released by Cpl. Annie Linteau, Communication Officer for the RCMP in Vancouver, the local search and rescue were notified of a possible missing person on February 17th after an SOS symbol in the snow was spotted by an unidentified off-duty guide from Purcell Helicopter Skiing, who reported it to his employer, who in turn notified staffers at the ski resort. The resort notified local search and rescue officials, and when no unreturned rental skis, missing persons reports or cars left in the parking lot overnight were identified, a ground search was not launched.

"On February 21st as the guide flew over the area and observed additional SOS symbols, a report was filed with the Golden detachment of the RCMP. The local search and rescue organization was contacted, who advised police that they had previously investigated this incident with no result. For a second time, a ground search was not initiated."