Avy death at snowbird today 11/13

^^^^Probably not the best video given the circumstances Mr Skoog but he was famous, notorious, take your pick, as one of the biggest huckers around. He had a fairly troubled past but had become a born again Christian in recent years and had a young family.

I was in Unitas over the weekend visiting family, and the snowpack turned upside down from Sat. day to Sunday morning. Had about 6 inches of low density below 3-4 inches of high density snow. We were getting cracks just riding sleds on the "logging" roads at 7500 feet. No skiing or snowboarding was done. Such a bummer to start off the season this way, thoughts go out to his family. Had friends up at Stevens yesterday and had a couple "whoomps" in the Tye area...As everyone is saying, be careful out there.

Some photos from the slide investigation: www.powdermag.com/stories/uac-releases-p...ource=home_multiline

Wow, looking at those Peruvian Cirque pictures, it looks like God did send a message - all caps, too.

It is definitely very sad.
If there is any good to be found in such a high profile tragedy it must be a raise in our awareness. There are clear lessons that folks can take away, especially those who are relatively new to the BC.

I mean no disrespect to Jamie and his family. We all make exactly these mistakes as we learn how to exist in the backcountry. It is a long learning process that continues every day we get out into the places we love.

Jamie was pro skier with tons of experience. Even still, with all that time on big exposed slopes, he didn't make the decisions that could have saved his life. The lesson here is that everyone makes mistakes. Even if you are touring with more experienced folks you still have to make your own assessments and decisions. The idea that your partner knows better and you can just go along for the ride on autopilot is a bad one. Even the pros screw up.

Look at that bootpack cutting across the bottom of big open 40deg pitch. The UAC folks guess that they set that sympathetically, after crossing. The lesson is to pick the safest place to cross exposed slopes. That wasn't it. I'm guessing there was a detour, not too far out from the lessening of the 40deg pitch that, while still crossing the dangerous runout path, may have avoided triggering. If not there then the windward side of the ridge line. Maybe not at all.

The most disturbing lesson is that the early season snow pack doesn't cover the rocks, low/downed trees and other hazards. Once we get to the January 100"+ base a bunch of those nasties are covered. Right now a rapid, unplanned trip down will just brutalize your body. Jamie was only partially buried.

I talked to my buddy in Utah who knew Jamie pretty well and he told me that these guys were over at Alta boarding, but got forced off due a guy breaking his leg in an avalanche and patrol closing Alta to all uphill travel. That should have been the first clue that there was heightened danger.
So they traversed all the way over from Alta to Peruvian Chutes...that is a long traverse and lots of exposures after knowing about the high avy danger. They were pretty much rolling the dice the whole day. For what reason is still the question of many locals ???
Being called a Pro skier does not make one Bruce Tremper. I don't mean to be insensitive to the family if somehow they stumble upon our localized blog, I am really sorry for them to lose a loved one.