Silver Mt, ID 1/7/2020 Two Fatalities

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Originally Posted by Bunion 2020

For anyone who has actual information and not rumor. Had that area been open this season?

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No

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Originally Posted by pipedream

I'm curious as to the method of control employed before the terrain was opened. Hand charges? If so, how many? Anfo? If so, how large and how far above the snow surface?

One would think that a major slab like this would be sussed-out with a big enough charge. But the question is the placement and size of that charge. There are important lessons to be learned here on the hazard reduction side, too.

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This x1000. Somebody done fucked up.

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Originally Posted by glademaster

This x1000. Somebody done fucked up.

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Maybe, maybe not. I will wait for the investigation and full report to come out before i wag my finger at someone.

No finger wagging but if that area was being opened for the 1st time of the season....

I had a list of watchout situation when I was forecasting. Similar to the Wildland Fire Watchouts. https://www.nps.gov/articles/firefig...situations.htm

# 1 Area being opened for the 1st time that season.
# 2 Area being re-opened after being closed for an extended period, > 1 week with snowfall.
# 3 No one on that route was on that route the day before.

Etc Etc.

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One would think that a major slab like this would be sussed-out with a big enough charge. But the question is the placement and size of that charge. There are important lessons to be learned here on the hazard reduction side, too.

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Explosives testing is exactly that, a test of an area at a certain point in time. There are plenty of stories of paths being repeatedly shot and avalanching minute or hours later.

The hill I was skiing today has had at least 1 significant deep slab avalanche every day for the past 6 days. They are playing it conservatively and for good reason.

Speechless about the whole thing. Condolences to the families of the deceased, vibes to patrol, congrats to those rescued.

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Originally Posted by Bunion 2020

No finger wagging but if that area was being opened for the 1st time of the season....

I had a list of watchout situation when I was forecasting. Similar to the Wildland Fire Watchouts. https://www.nps.gov/articles/firefig...situations.htm

# 1 Area being opened for the 1st time that season.
# 2 Area being re-opened after being closed for an extended period, > 1 week with snowfall.
# 3 No one on that route was on that route the day before.

Etc Etc.



Explosives testing is exactly that, a test of an area at a certain point in time. There are plenty of stories of paths being repeatedly shot and avalanching minute or hours later.

The hill I was skiing today has had at least 1 significant deep slab avalanche every day for the past 6 days. They are playing it conservatively and for good reason.

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Fully agree. Know your background and respect it.
I do not know what was done for mitigation that day as i was not there.
Could Patrol have done something different? Maybe, maybe not, i wasn’t there so not sure what was or wasn’t done.
Could the skiers have approached and skied that terrain differently, possibly. I know for a fact I personally would have not got on that slope with such a big group, esp after such a big day.
I’m also lazy so I would not have cut the traverse in.

Points well taken, especially the last one.

I feel for the folks that were in charge their world has turned to shit. A worst nightmare come true.

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Originally Posted by The SnowShow

Fucking sobering. How often are we all chasing deep inbounds snow in perfect avalanche terrain, for seconds of joy. Shit like this makes me think of the countless times I’ve jumped right into a big rope drop or terrain with huge amounts of new/wind loaded snow with dozens of others and not thought twice. Vibes to all those effected and passed. Ugh.

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So Fn true.
I’m beeping in bounds from now on with any inclination of shaky conditions or new snow.

Heavy heart for the victims

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Originally Posted by Bunion 2020

Points well taken, especially the last one.

I feel for the folks that were in charge their world has turned to shit. A worst nightmare come true.

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Lol. Esp for that terrain. Just not worth the effort.

Yeah, i know the head troller and it’s gonna be rough for him.

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Originally Posted by 2FUNKY

Lol. Esp for that terrain. Just not worth the effort.

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QFT

Oof. So sorry to read of this. Vibes to all, I am saddened.

This may not be the place for it Bunion, but would you mind sharing some of the other things that were on your list?

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Originally Posted by glademaster

This x1000. Somebody done fucked up.

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Do you have experience with hazard mitigation?

how prevalent are recco detectors? do all resorts, even smaller ones, own one or more?

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Originally Posted by NWFlow

Do you have experience with hazard mitigation?

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Glademaster knows how to do everything better than anyone.

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Originally Posted by snowaddict91

Glademaster knows how to do everything better than anyone.

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Apparently.

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Impressive body recovery. Seriously.

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Originally Posted by 2FUNKY

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8_UtRd...ature=youtu.be

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This footage is incredible if a bit rough to watch when you think about it. Feels invasive but it's revealing in an educational way. Vibes. This has been a weird winter in the inland NW so far.

Agree with above.
This is the 2 day recovery eh?

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Originally Posted by stizzmt

This footage is incredible if a bit rough to watch when you think about it. Feels invasive but it's revealing in an educational way. Vibes. This has been a weird winter in the inland NW so far.

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I was torn about posting it. Trust me as this is my home mountain. Figured this was educational.

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Originally Posted by CascadeLuke

Agree with above.
This is the 2 day recovery eh?

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Yep. I don't see what the rush was.

Sobering reminder
Healing thoughts to all involved...

Jeezus. Heavy.

RIP

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Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark

Yep. I don't see what the rush was.

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I will delete it.
I posted it as so others could get an idea of the location, slide path, the recco unit etc.
I had ZERO rush to post and thought long and hard about posting it. This is my fucking hill and know some of the involved and most of the Patrol. This hits home for me more than any of you complaining from a few hundred miles away. You seriously think me watching that was easy? FU!

Hey bud, I’m not sure you’re reading the comment as intended. He might have meant not sure what the rush was for the search crew in regards to the low likelihood of survival. Could be wrong.
Personally don’t find a problem with video. It’s a sad reality and I’m trying to understand, educate, and keep those close to me safe. [emoji1374]

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Originally Posted by CascadeLuke

Hey bud, I’m not sure you’re reading the comment as intended. He might have meant not sure what the rush was for the search crew in regards to the low likelihood of survival

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This is how I read it.

This is heavy stuff and it's easy to misconstrue things, especially words on a screen.

Raising a glass tonight for those that didn't make it home and those that will be permanently scarred from being impacted by the accident be they a loved one, friend, mountain staff, rescuer, or just local ski bum.

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Originally Posted by CascadeLuke

Hey bud, I’m not sure you’re reading the comment as intended. He might have meant not sure what the rush was for the search crew in regards to the low likelihood of survival. Could be wrong.
Personally don’t find a problem with video. It’s a sad reality and I’m trying to understand, educate, and keep those close to me safe. [emoji1374]

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Maybe. I’m a little emotional over this and he comes off on other threads as an ass, so theres that. Been a long 2.5 days.

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Originally Posted by 2FUNKY

Maybe. I’m a little emotional over this and he comes off on other threads as an ass, so theres that. Been a long 2.5 days.

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More than understandable my friend.
Raise that Manhattan. Cheers!!

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Originally Posted by CascadeLuke

More than understandable my friend.
Raise that Manhattan. Cheers!!

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Half way through one....
Cheers my friend!!

fkna. Vibes to all - can't even imagine. Incredible rescue effort.

RIP. +++vibes+++

That read from the burial victim was unbelievable. I can not imagine the fear when the secondary covered him up.

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Originally Posted by skideeppow

That read from the burial victim was unbelievable. I can not imagine the fear when the secondary covered him up.

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It make me want to put my avalung back on my airbag pack. Yeesh!

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Originally Posted by stizzmt

This footage is incredible if a bit rough to watch when you think about it. Feels invasive but it's revealing in an educational way. Vibes. This has been a weird winter in the inland NW so far.

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Hard to tell but at about 24 sec it looks like you can see some bombholes from hand charges. Spooky. One hell of a deposition pile, looks like a cat was in pushing on it.

Condolences to all involved.

I should know this but I don't. Is it standard practice everywhere for patrol to listen for beeps on an in-bounds slide?

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Originally Posted by beece

I should know this but I don't. Is it standard practice everywhere for patrol to listen for beeps on an in-bounds slide?

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AFAIK every patrol I've chatted with will do a quick sweep. Source is my SAR experience, troller friends, and talking to random patrollers on the hill.

Anyone else care to elaborate?

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Originally Posted by snowaddict91

AFAIK every patrol I've chatted with will do a quick sweep. Source is my SAR experience, troller friends, and talking to random patrollers on the hill.

Anyone else care to elaborate?

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Your initial rescue 'strike' team is going to have a person doing a beacon search and someone is going to start a Recco search when the unit get there, along with searching for obvious visual clues. While this is going on you can start rescuers that are showing up with probing areas of high probability (trees, roll overs, toe of debris) while you get organized into probe lines/get the dogs into the area.

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Originally Posted by altasnob

The thread below posted a copy of a letter from one of the persons that was rescued from the avalanche.

http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewt...174970#1174970

01/07/2020
Personal Summery by Bill Fuzak
Avalanche burial at Silver Mountain Ski Area / Wardner Traverse / 16 to 1 run
On Tuesday Jan 7, 2020 around 11 AM I was involved in and consequently fully buried for approximately 50 minutes in an inbounds avalanche at Silver Mountain Ski and Snowboard Park. The avalanche occurred in a recently opened part of the ski area where over 20 inches of new snow had fallen in two days.
I was part of a group of 10+ skiers and boarders that had entered the Wardner Traverse area and started setting a ski packed path on the Traverse. We had been waiting for the rope to drop for the area and entered the traverse only after the closed sign had been removed and with a Silver Mountain Ski Patrol member giving the verbal ok to “start cutting the traverse ourselves or wait for a Ski Patroller to break trail on the traverse”. I personally heard the conversation with the 3 lead skiers and the patroller as I was the 4th person going out onto the newly cut traverse. Our understanding was avalanche mitigation with explosive charges had been completed off the top of Wardner Peak before skiers and boarders entered the then uncut traverse.
The going was slow and all but 6 or 7 riders of the original group dropped into glades prior to reaching the run named 16 to 1. The three lead skiers dropped in to ski the fresh snow about a third of the way across 16 to1. The rest of us, appx 4 or 5 people, dropped in closer to the tree edge. After only one or two turns the snow started to fracture above us as well as below us and the slide started to propagate and accelerate. I heard a female voice over my right shoulder, I think it was Rebecca, say calmly that “it’s giving way, try to stay on top”. I lost my left ski almost immediately and fell backwards while trying to release my right ski to no avail. A few seconds later while swimming to try and stay on top of the slide it slowed and pulled me down completely under the snow. As the moving snow ground to a halt and compressed around me I started punching upwards with my right fist to create an air hole above me. I was able to successfully reach the surface with my right fist and then started creating space around my mouth and face to get air. When I had air flowing unobstructed into the hole I had created I started waving my gloved hand out the air hole hoping someone would see me. I also shouted for help for several seconds before calming down. I was glad to have air and thought I had a good chance to be rescued.
Within seconds, another, more powerful slide hit and buried my breathing hole under what felt like feet of snow. I heard and felt the snow compress around me and I was unable to move anything but my right hand to clear my face and mouth. At this point I tried to calm my breathing and conserve air. I don’t know how long I stayed conscious after that. I had already relegated myself to the inevitable as I knew the air would not last long. I was in no pain and knew I wasn’t injured. I’m really surprised how calm I felt but knew there was nothing I could do but wait and pray.
The first thing I remember when coming back to consciousness was a group of rescuers cheering that a survivor had been located, me. I cannot express the surprise and relief I felt to hear and see other people digging me out. Ski patroller Bill held my hand and helped keep me calm as he and the others helped dig me out as I was buried upright in the deep snow. Apparently, my lips were blue when they unburied me and I was initially unconscious. My hands and feet were extremely cold but I was uninjured, breathing and moving well. I was elated to still be “here”. I was more than ready to get out of my encasement, afraid that a 3rd slide would bury me again. Bill asked me about other members of the party I was aware of. I thought there were at least 3 others buried in my general vicinity. I believe Ski Patroller Maya Pardue found me with her probe then other volunteers came over to help dig me out. Maya, thanks for sticking to it, finding me and consequently saving my life. I am eternally grateful to you and your group of patrollers.
During and after extrication Patroller Bill checked me over and concluded I was not severely injured. I was able to walk and with help load into a toboggan attached to a snowmobile. A snowmobile driver and Ski Patroller Bill transported me down to the snow cat maintenance facility to be checked out by local medical professionals and warmed up. I sat with and spoke with another rescued local skier named Ken who had also been buried for 50 minutes. He also survived by creating an air space and through the incredible efforts of Ski Patrol and other volunteers on scene. I was interviewed extensively by the Sheriff as well as the head of Silver Mountain Ski Patrol in the Ski patrol office.
I cannot give enough thanks and compliments for the effort shown by the Silver Mountain Ski Patrol, Search and Rescue volunteers as well as other skiers and riders that played a role in saving my life and the other riders lives. My family especially wants to thank them all for saving us. My heart goes out to the families of the two riders that did not survive.
Sincerely,
Bill Fuzak

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maggs…

I wanted to post in this thread because the northern Rockies of USA is treasured country to me :
I tried to migrate to the region twice thirty years ago. . . and

since our day at Lost Trail in 2017, I have said(,) If I had skied Lost Trail in 1989-1990, I would have found a way to stay in the region...

I used to work with a man who skied Jackass in the late 1970s and early 1980s... and

I considered applying a few years ago, when Silver Mtn. conducted a nationwide Search
( Missing from my resume : Snow Safety Mitigation experience )


my sincere Condolences to those touched by Loss of this incident --

my solemn, ,,, Relief for the survivors ( Fifty minute burial. as others have said, Not statistically … )

my sincere [ Thank You ] to All who contributed to the Search and Rescue response ( I don't believe I am still Able to contribute The effort required for this Work
( Time marches on... and my health is not healthy )

in closing, I offer this only as a Request :

Please , Get Home Safely.

it looks fun. and it looks great. But If it is not Safe...

There are too many in these pages and in these endeavors who don't make it home . . .

Please , Get Home Safely .


Thank you for this important tread...

tj

All of you that are aiding and abetting negligence here are despicable. An avalanche of this size, occurring on open terrain of that nature isn't "the raw power of mother nature" it's inexcusable. Full Stop. The snow safety director and patrol director there need to lose their jobs, and should never be able to work in those fields again, anywhere. They fucked up by opening that terrain to the public. :nonono2:

If you disagree, you're wrong, AND you're welcome to go fuck yourself.

But sure, go ahead and be corporate apologists, I would expect nothing less from the legions of herpetic sphincters around here.