SummitPost.org

An Aspen BC skier was killed in an avalanche near Lindley Hut yesterday. Be careful out there folks.

Source.

Always tragic. And the very familiar refrain "experienced b/c skiers" involved.

Very sad, thanks for the sober reminder.

Mountain Impulse wrote:Always tragic. And the very familiar refrain "experienced b/c skiers" involved.

The victim was not wearing an avalanche beacon

An "experienced b/c skier" not using a beacon in considerable to high avalanche danger.

Well written and very imformitive article. I'm thinking you don't get that kind of "avy article" from the Denver Post.

Kane wrote:Well written and very imformitive article. I'm thinking you don't get that kind of "avy article" from the Denver Post.

I was thinking the same thing. I didn't see any of the obvious errors that you usually see from uninformed reporters. There was a lot of very good detail in at article.

He had more experience than you all put together. He was with Timmy Madsen, who also has more experience than all of you could ever hope to have, actually being from the mtns. He had multiple fractures and likely died within minutes of the avalanche. Sometimes good people have bad things happen to them.

mconnell wrote:

Mountain Impulse wrote:Always tragic. And the very familiar refrain "experienced b/c skiers" involved.

The victim was not wearing an avalanche beacon

An "experienced b/c skier" not using a beacon in considerable to high avalanche danger.

For some reason this comment doesn't sit well with me. It comes across as being highly unsensitive too soon after the tragic accident.

Very tragic. Stories like this scare the crap out of me (and rightfully so). The article indicates that the avalanche danger was high. I think that one of the cognitive paradoxes of experienced outdoorsmen is that they are generally apt to put themselves in even more dangerous situations than most people because of their experience and expertise. I believe the article tells it best - if the avalance conditions are high - don't go!

My thoughts go out to friends and family members. RIP.

That's precisely what many that are new to the backcountry scene are doing, going out no matter what. Learning the lesson of patience is an important lesson. Best to ski at the area or go somewhere your highly familiar with when the conditions are high. As to the beacon and shovel, I hear this attitude all the time where those items of technology in and of themselves will keep you safe, not so. You have to have the knowledge and experience to use them as well.

mconnell wrote:

Mountain Impulse wrote:Always tragic. And the very familiar refrain "experienced b/c skiers" involved.

The victim was not wearing an avalanche beacon

An "experienced b/c skier" not using a beacon in considerable to high avalanche danger.

Oh my, here we go with the tragedy cry once again.

Beacon my ass... how about not using his fking brains!

Never ceases to amaze me how the word "experienced" is always thrown in there.

If he had really had experience, he would have NEVER even gone up there..period.

A beacon, probe and all that happy REI availble shit would have not saved his ass.

Tragedy...Like my Pop used to always say to me,

"STUPIDITY SHOULD BE PAINFUL!"


DO NOT GO INTO THE BC WHEN THE AVY CONDITON'S ARE PRIME TO KILL YOU, REGARDLESS OF ALL THE REI TOYS YOU HAVE ON YOUR BODY. SIMPLE!

Use that one piece of equipment that is free....

YOUR BRAINS!

CAIC report; 14ers thread. Probably both worthwhile reading.

Such an ego, Chief.

Downy wrote:Such an ego, Chief.

Has absolutely NOTHING to do with Ego.....


Has to do with the reality that far too many people out there these days think that they are BULLET PROOF, go out and do stupid ass shit, then put the lives of others (SAR Personnel) in jeopardy in the operation of and the expectations that they will go out and save their ass after their selfish and thoughtless behavior.

Bottom line, people such as this individual are just plain SELFISH and care absolutely NOTHING about the safety and well being of others!

According to the CAIC Report, all the others in the group decided (actually using some in depth common sense and true experience) that the conditions were far too dangerous to even attempt the gig.

Something to consider in this incident and for future plans.

Listen to the voice of reason in the group. If one persons stands up and states, "no way, looks far too danergous", heed the realistic 6th sense in the group.

Kane wrote:

mconnell wrote:

Mountain Impulse wrote:Always tragic. And the very familiar refrain "experienced b/c skiers" involved.

The victim was not wearing an avalanche beacon

An "experienced b/c skier" not using a beacon in considerable to high avalanche danger.

For some reason this comment doesn't sit well with me. It comes across as being highly unsensitive too soon after the tragic accident.

Sorry it came across that way. It wasn't meant as a comment on the victim in any way. It was directed at the author of the article claiming that the victim was experienced, when the facts seem to show otherwise.