Sorry to hear.
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Sorry to hear.
my condolences :(
RIP Mike :frown:
Sorry to hear it, gravity. My condolences to all that knew and loved him.
Condolences!
sorry to hear that your friend moved on, gravity. it would seem that the good do die young and you'd better believe that there is a place they can still do all the things they love. mourn for the family, not for your friend. he'll still be with you if you let him.
Damn...so sorry. Hard to ever know what to say, when someone 'leaves' us.
My heart feels for you, Mikes family and many friends.
Positive thoughts go out to his family, friends, shop co-workers, ski-buddies.
Go make some turns for him- everyone be safe.
Condolences to all. RIP Mike.
sorry to hear that gravitylover. i'm sure some of my friends in town knew him, also. ++++++
today's update -
http://www.steamboatpilot.com/section/news/story/27717
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is investigating the avalanche that killed a 26-year-old Steamboat Springs man Monday.
Dale Atkins of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center said the center sent someone to the avalanche site on Soda Mountain on Tuesday and is hoping to interview those involved. The center tries to investigate all avalanches where fatalities, serious injuries or close calls occur, Atkins said.
On Monday afternoon, Michael Gebhardt died when an avalanche swept him down a southerly facing slope on Soda Mountain, which is northwest of Buffalo Past.
Gebhardt, a professional ski tuner at Extreme Tuning and an experienced backcountry skier, was with his brother and two friends, who were using snowmobiles to access untracked skiing terrain in the area.
Atkins said it is unusual for avalanches to occur on southerly facing mountains but noted a break was reported in the same general area last year in March. The slope where Gebhardt went down is known as the Flume of Doom.
"Avalanches in midwinter are fairly unusual (on southerly facing slopes). Most tend to happen on northerly and easterly facing slopes," Atkins said.
Officials with the avalanche center hope to talk to those who were involved in the incident to determine their level of experience and find out why they chose to ski that slope. The center also will look at snow cover and weather conditions in the area.
"In every accident, there is a lot of information that can be used. We try to find the lessons learned and pass it along," Atkins said.
Also on Tuesday, Routt County Coroner Rob Ryg said Gebhardt died of suffocation. Reports indicate that Gebhardt died quickly after being caught in the avalanche.
Gebhardt was buried in 3 feet of snow, and it took about eight to 10 minutes for the group to dig him out. His friends attempted CPR.
Ryg said no autopsy would be done. Gebhardt will be taken home to New York for a funeral, a representative from the Yampa Valley Funeral Home said.
A memorial fund to help the family with the cost of the funeral has been set up in Gebhardt's name at Wells Fargo Bank, his neighbor Jeanne Heffley said. Donations can be made at the Steamboat Springs Wells Fargo Bank. For more information, call the bank at 879-0550.
R.I.P Mike
R.I.Powder
Always breaks my heart to hear about these kinds of things.
Caught this on TV the other day when I was channel surfing...perhaps it's something for us all to consider for when we are in the BC:
Avalanche Airbag
More Info w/FAQ
May you have endless freshies on the other side...
Sad. At least he was a man who understood the risks and lived out the benefit. My thoughts and prayers go out.
I've got good friends in the Boat that knew Mike. Condolances to them and the family. RIP Mike, RIP.
Hey Mangs, let's be sure keep safe out there.
Tips up man. Be safe everyone.
I was in the 'boat when this went down. Got back from a day on the mountain on tuesday and flipped on the news...so sorry for those involved.
I don't know about that, with all due respect to those involved:Quote:
Originally Posted by ak_powder_monkey
1) Obviously, 3 people and only 1 shovel between them
2) We won't know for awhile and might never know, but I wonder if any analysis was done on a similar aspect or even that slope - maybe a false sense of security since it was south facing?
3) Sounds like possibly there were two skiers on the slope at one time? Brother above brother?
Mostly useless speculations...
again, my condolences....RIP
Services will be held tonight in Carmel NY. If anybody would like to come PM me for details.