Phantom avy info? 04/06/11

As with others, I too am grateful that your outcome was life.  The good news here is that husbands returned to their wives, boyfriends to their girlfriends, a father returned to his daughter, and sons to their parents. 

Be grateful for the lesson and the opportunity to return to your life with maybe a new appreciation for what you have.  

Often we think as I once did, it won't happen to me.  I had a wake up call a few year back being the only one caught in a slide while others stood safely on the side.  I was fortunate enough to walk away from it but it scared the Jesus out of me at the time.

I wish you all a speedy recovery and happy days ahead with your families.

Marcus, glad you and the rest of your group are back safe! Hope those that were injured heal up fast.

I'm sure I'll catch hell for saying this, but I can't help but question why we have to "learn something" from someone's unfortunate accident. The internet has turned us into a bunch of voyeurs. Marcus is under no obligation to make public what was most likely a very personal, traumatic experience.  I really hope he posts nothing at all, and we're left to use our own judgement in deciding whether to go skiing or not.

I sometimes think about Tremper's confidence vs time graph in these situations. One's confidence in avalanche terrain gradually rises over time with periodic crashes when something bad happens. An avalanche ride, serious injury, death of a friend, etc. I know in my own avy career I have made a few mistakes, had a close call or two, and probably gotten lucky. But I haven't taken a ride or been injured. I know that's no guarantee it won't happen in the future though.

I try to pay attention to incidents like Dan's because I hope that I can vicariously learn something from the terrible experience he went through. As a newbie I would hear stories of backcountry mishaps and think "geez, why were they out there in those conditions." These days I instead try to understand what similar types of decisions I have made in the past, or might make in the future. I know and respect Dan so it definitely hit close to home to learn about his accident. And sure, if someone gets avalanched on an Extreme day then maybe we can write it off to Darwin, but most cases aren't that black and white.

No one should be expected to broadcast their decisions or mistakes on a public forum. But if they do offer it up, I try to pay attention and learn what I can. My hope is that maybe my own personal confidence in avalanche terrain may rise a bit more slowly, with hopefully fewer major mishaps along the way.

-Doug

I try to pay attention to incidents like Dan's because I hope that I can vicariously learn something from the terrible experience he went through. As a newbie I would hear stories of backcountry mishaps and think "geez, why were they out there in those conditions."  These days I instead try to understand what similar types of decisions I have made in the past, or might make in the future. I know and respect Dan so it definitely hit close to home to learn about his accident. And sure, if someone gets avalanched on an Extreme day then maybe we can write it off to Darwin, but most cases aren't that black and white.

No one should be expected to broadcast their decisions or mistakes on a public forum. But if they do offer it up, I try to pay attention and learn what I can. My hope is that maybe my own personal confidence in avalanche terrain may rise a bit more slowly, with hopefully fewer major mishaps along the way.

Well put. I don't expect anyone to share the details of an incident, but surely do appreciate when they do. I'm always eager to read the details of avy incidents, and yes, I try to humbly ponder where my own decisions might tend to cross paths with what I read.

Scotsman has a few good points, including the implication that if Marcus shares the details and that opens up a judgment-fest, it will have a chilling effect on others who might otherwise open up and share more info that might help teach the rest of us, for when we make our own decisions.

People blaming lack of safe secret stash TR's forcing them to ski risky terrain as a result. OMG!

That's not really what I said or meant, but yeah that would be ridiculous. Just turning things around a bit on critics.

Wow, glad to hear you guys got out OK. Sorry about the injuries. I am looking forward to hearing about it since it is a place I know many of us have spent a lot of time. I just did a search for the last time I had a close one - yep, April.

I am glad to hear that everyone is going to be ok.


REMINDER: none of them involved owes anyone any kind of account. The sideline reporting and armchair QBing is completely out of hand. The expectation you need to be "told" about it is completley ridiculous.