Avalanches Kill 3 at Stevens Pass, 1 at Alpental

These are sad incidents that I have been struggling with all day.  It is hard to grasp and understand.  We tried to get out into the mountains today and find some peace but they were on our mind.  We talked a lot about the people and the events.  We turned around a short distance out because it just didn't feel right.
My heart goes out to the friends and family of those lost yesterday.

Last night I had a few drinks alone toasting these guys and all the rest of my turns this year will be in their spirit. Jim was an enormous part of what we know as free skiing today. And an all around good soul, always good for more stoke than anyone else and always ready for a few beers and good conversation. Things will be very different without him around. We had a great day at Alta last spring, and I always considered it an honor to hang with him.

This incident like all before continues to haunt my thoughts in everything I'm doing right now.  The waves of pain it sends though those familiar and not to the victims speaks to the unfairness of it all.  We should all die doing what we love to do.  Let's make it living and die of old age.  Please except my below reflections for their intentions: to keep others safe.  My sincerest condolences to all suffering through this tragic loss.  These were all passionate brothers in snow to me.  I know their love all to well and the need to spend it with others in the snowy mountains.

This was the message I sent to my patrols after the incident.  I send it to this community now as it's the one that has the most influence in our bc access.  This forum is the goto place in helping others to plan, share, and learn from our collective experiences.  Agree with me or not, let's come together to continually find ways to allow our passion to be a safe recreation for all.  Especially those that need our instruction, mentoring, and guidance in the BC.


> Subject: Avy fatality reflections
> From: nandyhill@gmail.com
> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:24:46 -0700
> To: spart@phydeaux.net; patrol@cascadebackcountryskipatrol.org
>
> I'm sitting here vacillating between survivors guilt and post rescue misgivings, wondering if things will ever change without a dramatic shift. In one day, we had 4 chair accessed BC avalanche fatalities and I know we're all lucky this number isn't larger. I was skiing Stevens this weekend knowing how bad Sunday was setting up for high hazard (brushed 9" high density snow off the car Saturday that all fell in 3 hours), but the wild side in me wanted to tempt it. Some did. Some got away with it. Some didn't.
>
> I was at the highway ski out of the Stevens Tunnel Creek accident yesterday and watched 15 worn-out, teared up survivors touch pavement after only 2 hours of terror in the snow. Not long before that, four doe eyed teenagers popped out of the same exit thinking they were going to be arrested by highway patrolmen on scene for the call-out. Walking/hitchhiking the highway after skiing the backside of Stevens is illegal, but all tempt it for the chance at chair assisted BC powder. They had no clue what was really at stake. As I was driving away from the incident, I saw several other groups skiing out below the incident command so as not to get 'caught' by the cops. As I hear of the fatality at Alpental, I envision it as yet another rope ducking local wanting a extreme descent from the ski resort.
>
> I know myself to also be at risk. The snow sirens often call me. I seek the thrill of flying down the mountain on my own wings and doing what few others would dare. 2-3 feet of fresh sky and wind transported snow goes to my core of desire and only after learning it's potential destruction do I logic out a surviving decision. It's hard though. It doesn't come natural and it's not how I was brought up among my posse of steep/deep seeking friends.
>
> It brings me to this forming belief: giving chair access to the backcountry during high hazard snow conditions (which always goes hand in hand with high quality skiing), is like giving the liquor cabinet keys to an alcoholic. I only know better myself through intervention (education), self awareness, and experience of getting in trouble.
>
> After the last couple season's of winter backcountry injuries and fatalities, it seemed a public awareness program would help. Avalance signs and beacon check stations at wilderness trailheads could do the trick. I think these can do more good than hurt, but this is for the self propelled traveller that largly knows they are going into wild/untamed snow.
>
> This really isn't the average profile for a resort skier going through upper gates. I've sat on many an upper gate watching caravans of crowds heading out without awareness and equipment to deal with the terrain. Most times it's no big deal. Sometimes it's a real problem.
>
> Yesterday was not the day to let average folks into the bc from the chairs. What a tough call though. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of the perfect line comes into play no doubt when dealing with access to public land. Why not let them access it from the base then when hazard is up? I imagine there are probably a host of solutions that the resort has to weigh against the pressure of 'the customer' but we should get in league with them to help.
>
> This is not meant to second guess the decisions of the people involved in yesterday's tragedy. Involved with the same group of experienced snow professionals and ski athletes, it could have been me there. This is mainly an effort to find the opportunity for learning and methods to protect others with our combined insights and experience. We are part of the community of experts when it comes to protection others from avalanches.
>

Heartfelt condolences to family, friends, community. Our community has lost some mighty fine folks. Let us all be supportive of each other in this time of pain.

Oyvind Henningsen

This is an enormous loss in the ski community. My heart goes out to all the family and friends.

I hope someone in the party will eventually share the events/thought processes that occurred so we can learn from them.

This incident like all before continues to haunt my thoughts in everything I'm doing right now.  The waves of pain it sends though those familiar and not to the victims speaks to the unfairness of it all.  We should all die doing what we love to do.  Let's make it living and die of old age.  Please except my below reflections for their intentions: to keep others safe.  My sincerest condolences to all suffering through this traffic loss.  These were all passionate brothers in snow to me.  I know their love all to well and the need to spend it with others in the snowy mountains.

This was the message I sent to my patrols after the incident.  I send it to this community now as it's the one that has the most influence in our bc access.  This forum is the goto place in helping others to plan, share, and learn from our collective experiences.  Agree with me or not, let's come together to continually find ways to allow our passion to be a safe recreation for all.  Especially those that need our instruction, mentoring, and guidance in the BC.


> Subject: Avy fatality reflections
> From: nandyhill@gmail.com
> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:24:46 -0700
> To: spart@phydeaux.net; patrol@cascadebackcountryskipatrol.org
>
> I'm sitting here vacillating between survivors guilt and post rescue misgivings, wondering if things will ever change without a dramatic shift. In one day, we had 4 chair accessed BC avalanche fatalities and I know we're all lucky this number isn't larger. I was skiing Stevens this weekend knowing how bad Sunday was setting up for high hazard (brushed 9" high density snow off the car Saturday that all fell in 3 hours), but the wild side in me wanted to tempt it. Some did. Some got away with it. Some didn't.
>
> I was at the highway ski out of the Stevens Tunnel Creek accident yesterday and watched 15 worn-out, teared up survivors touch pavement after only 2 hours of terror in the snow. Not long before that, four doe eyed teenagers popped out of the same exit thinking they were going to be arrested by highway patrolmen on scene for the call-out. Walking/hitchhiking the highway after skiing the backside of Stevens is illegal, but all tempt it for the chance at chair assisted BC powder. They had no clue what was really at stake. As I was driving away from the incident, I saw several other groups skiing out below the incident command so as not to get 'caught' by the cops. As I hear of the fatality at Alpental, I envision it as yet another rope ducking local wanting a extreme descent from the ski resort.
>
> I know myself to also be at risk. The snow sirens often call me. I seek the thrill of flying down the mountain on my own wings and doing what few others would dare. 2-3 feet of fresh sky and wind transported snow goes to my core of desire and only after learning it's potential destruction do I logic out a surviving decision. It's hard though. It doesn't come natural and it's not how I was brought up among my posse of steep/deep seeking friends.
>
> It brings me to this forming belief: giving chair access to the backcountry during high hazard snow conditions (which always goes hand in hand with high quality skiing), is like giving the liquor cabinet keys to an alcoholic. I only know better myself through intervention (education), self awareness, and experience of getting in trouble.
>
> After the last couple season's of winter backcountry injuries and fatalities, it seemed a public awareness program would help. Avalance signs and beacon check stations at wilderness trailheads could do the trick. I think these can do more good than hurt, but this is for the self propelled traveller that largly knows they are going into wild/untamed snow.
>
> This really isn't the average profile for a resort skier going through upper gates. I've sat on many an upper gate watching caravans of crowds heading out without awareness and equipment to deal with the terrain. Most times it's no big deal. Sometimes it's a real problem.
>
> Yesterday was not the day to let average folks into the bc from the chairs. What a tough call though. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of the perfect line comes into play no doubt when dealing with access to public land. Why not let them access it from the base then when hazard is up? I imagine there are probably a host of solutions that the resort has to weigh against the pressure of 'the customer' but we should get in league with them to help.
>
> This is not meant to second guess the decisions of the people involved in yesterday's tragedy. Involved with the same group of experienced snow professionals and ski athletes, it could have been me there. This is mainly an effort to find the opportunity for learning and methods to protect others with our combined insights and experience. We are part of the community of experts when it comes to protection others from avalanches.
>

Well said Andy -
I knew both Jim and Chris - As heavy and wrecked my heart is for our loss I am hopeful that people will take this opportunity to pause, reflect and further educate themselves and others. Pass the torch - Be safe - Blessings