Skiing Colorado highway passes - Denver Post gets it wrong.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_22716453?
Figured I'd share my reply with you clowns.
Maybe it'll keep someone from 86'ing their dumb ass this weekend.
Peas,
*Pnr
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This article is irresponsible in that it offers only a cursory warning about avalanche hazards. If you're not skiing in-bounds at a patrolled ski area, you're in the backcountry.
Ask yourself this question: Would I mind dying a painful, cold and lonely death due to suffocation and trauma buried alive under 15 feet of snow? If your answer is "Hell yes, I mind!" then read on.
It's pretty easy to avoid being caught and killed in an avalanche: Don't go where they happen.
Backcountry skiers MUST be responsible for knowing how to avoid avalanche terrain, and manage their travel wisely in cases where it cannot entirely be avoided. The ONLY way to prepare is to take an avalanche field course and to practice good technique.
People are lulled into a false sense of security because these roadside routes are so popular and so well-traveled. The bald truth is that people can and do die or seriously injure themselves all the time in these zones.
"Oh, it's cool. We're just going in the trees. We'll be fine."
Wrong.
"Don't worry, we'll just follow these tracks. We'll be fine."
False.
This is a formula for tragedy. Just last week an uninformed snowboarder had to be rescued at Berthoud Pass when she ventured alone onto a classic start zone and triggered a small avalanche that dragged her to the edge of a 60ft cliff.
Two substantial avalanches were reported at Loveland Pass that same day. Both easily big enough to kill a person.
People sustain serious leg fractures at Vail Pass every year, often taking several hours to get to medical care. A femur fracture can be fatal within minutes.
Attending a Level 1 avalanche course is a good start, but it's not enough to prepare you to manage the terrain you'll encounter at Loveland, Berthoud, Vail or Red Mountain Passes.
+ Take a class, then find a mentor who will take the time to teach you how to apply your skills.
+ Be conservative in your terrain choices and slowly work your way up to bigger and more complex terrain.
+ Practice with your gear constantly.
+ Know your limitations and be aware that your choices impact other people. Think about the people skiing around you, the people who will stick their neck out to rescue you, and the people close to you who will hurt if you die.
Some good resources to get started:
BerthoudPass.org Resources
Colorado Avalanche Information Center
Backcountry Access Educational Resources
Avalanche.org Education Resources
Avalanche Training Courses
Travel smart and have a long, safe life of powder turns in the backcountry.
See ya at the Pass.
*FOBP
