Phantom avy info? 04/06/11

Marcus, Drew, Dan: thank you so much for exposing yourselves by sharing your tale here. I'm certain that many will be helped. I think that, as touring practices change (b/c of the internet, guidebooks, improved gear, etc.), the type of trouble folks get into will also change. If we, as a community, self-report mishaps and close calls we can all keep a more accurate picture of the ways in which skiers are getting into trouble. That may help us ski more safely.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for Roger and Dan.

Best Wishes,
Micah Prange

My last thoughts on the matter is how close to home this hits.  Marcus and I have taken the same avy classes together and performed the same pre-season training for several years.  I consider him more methodical them me.  I'm a phantom lapper and use that slope for exercise through the season.  I've been up that glade a dozen times/season.    From reading their accounts, I think I might be less risk averse in the snow.   This easily could have been me in that group.  It gives me pause.

Thanks, Andy for the assessment. It is clear that there is much more to an accident than just snowpack (terrain, weather and group dynamics). The snowpack questions just help us to understand Why did this happen here? Marcus and Dan have given great insight into the other parts of the incident.

I think that all of us have been in situations where either we were uncomfortable  or where something did happen. When people are willing to share their experiences we can all learn.

Edited to add: Dan and Marcus's stories sure point out how difficult it is to extract oneself from a situation once it starts to evolve. It is not easy to make the decision to turn around.

We are pleased that everyone in your group made it a “round-trip”.  I imagine the tears of joy from your loved ones and the hours of replaying the day’s events might qualify you as a more cautious touring partner for future adventures. You can’t always control the unplanned events in your life but you can control how you react to those events.

Zap & Jill

When spring is trying to act like winter on those low elevation , potential sun- facing, soaking slopes (something happening in snowpack rapidly..solar heat?) with new fallen snow (and or wind transport/slab?) I get a little nervous..
Things happening rapidly in/to snow pack (heating?)...

Seen a slope go after it was fully skied out after everybody had left. The pillow immediately under the cornice--which a small part of, dropped onto pillow--had triggered and released the "pillow" and ultimately resulted in the whole slope being obliterated (2' appr.crown). The ski tracks came in from the side below the pillow. The sun was full on at the time of 1pm.. a few hours after the skiing/freshies were partaked...

I wonder what ski cutting immediately below that cornice would have produced early on that day...seems like a good idea..

My two cents worth..been in a slide my self in Crystal area years ago...don't want to do that again, but don't want to forget my thinking errors on that one ...I should not have been above a rock band and the terrain trap below that-- especially new cold snow, that it was rapidly warming/cooking in the sun...

Marcus: Great write up in your avalanche. I suspect there may be more thoughts that went through your mind while you were in the avalanche...some of us have been there.

Don/Dan. Love the photo of you smiling! Now that you are laid up, don't watch too much Jerry Springer.

Look forward to more of your skiing in the future!

thanks to all those involved for your honesty and openess with the community. this is extra valuable as most of us I assume know the area where the slide was triggered, and can focus on the other variables and learn something valuable from your experience.

speedy recovery to those injured and another shout out to SAR, great work everyone.