Millcreek Canyon UT - 4 fatalities

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02-07-2021, 01:00 PM
My Pet Powder Goat

I'd harp on my friends all the time about their straps in avy terrain, And tree skiing to a lesser extent, and they would roll their eyes about it, but its deadly serious.

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02-07-2021, 01:06 PM
tBatt

Names released.
https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news...rush-to-scene/

All in their 20s. Absolutely heartbreaking.
02-07-2021, 03:15 PM
TeleBlade

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunder

Lots of the newer poles feature breakaway straps now. Or at least all the new Scott’s do.

Kerma has had breakaway straps for probably 50 years. Nobody else did so figured it was patented. Good to hear about Scott poles.
02-07-2021, 03:15 PM
MagnificentUnicorn

Quote:

Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat

I'd harp on my friends all the time about their straps in avy terrain, And tree skiing to a lesser extent, and they would roll their eyes about it, but its deadly serious.

Sent from my SM-N986U using TGR Forums mobile app

Yurt owner in the Wallowa in OR wouldn’t let you start a trip with straps on your poles

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02-07-2021, 04:23 PM
snowaddict91

1 Attachment(s)

Millcreek Canyon UT - 4 fatalities

I haven't talked to him or seen him post in a while, but it looks like straightlineorbust was one of the fatalities. Didn't know him well at all but we skied together at the Bird a few times. RIP.

Attachment 361727
02-07-2021, 05:28 PM
Briangle

Condolences to everyone affected by this
02-07-2021, 05:41 PM
Ottime

Yeah. Condolences. Shitty news.
02-07-2021, 06:23 PM
yeahman

That is just heartbreaking. Young men and women in the prime of life, out enjoying a day in the mountains. RIP
02-07-2021, 06:54 PM
wra

1 Attachment(s)

Someone asked me after the first slide in the glade if I had ever seen it slide before. My response was "yes, many times and I doubt it's over, there".

Attachment 361750

Not a prophet. Plenty left in the chutes, Alexander Basin pass, only pockets in Toot Suite and to boot. Soldier hasn't slid, the snow pack is hollow.
What a tragedy, so young.
BTW, the skin track is placed to the looker's right of the last piece of crown(learned after more than one close encounter).
02-07-2021, 07:43 PM
homemadesalsa

Quote:

Originally Posted by wra

Someone asked me after the first slide in the glade if I had ever seen it slide before. My response was "yes, many times and I doubt it's over, there".

Attachment 361750

Not a prophet. Plenty left in the chutes, Alexander Basin pass, only pockets in Toot Suite and to boot. Soldier hasn't slid, the snow pack is hollow.
What a tragedy, so young.
BTW, the skin track is placed to the looker's right of the last piece of crown(learned after more than one close encounter).

Thanks @wra. Nice to hear from you. You of anyone should know about Alexander Basin. I have been devastated since I heard about this last night. It violates my mission statement of helping people not die in avalanches. So sorry, Wasatch folks.
02-07-2021, 08:27 PM
happytimefunbox

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowaddict91

I haven't talked to him or seen him post in a while, but it looks like straightlineorbust was one of the fatalities. Didn't know him well at all but we skied together at the Bird a few times. RIP.

Attachment 361727

Fuck

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02-08-2021, 09:19 AM
bern43

Skied a day at Snowbird with straightlineorbust a few years ago. Awful news. RIP.
02-08-2021, 11:27 AM
davjr96

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2021/02/...we-know-about/

RIP
02-08-2021, 02:36 PM
Dshack89

Quote:

Originally Posted by davjr96

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2021/02/...we-know-about/

RIP

Man that's hard to read.
02-08-2021, 02:50 PM
PowTron

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redacted by user

It looks like one in the parties submitted an obs right beforehand.

https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/58953

:(
02-08-2021, 02:54 PM
muted

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dshack89

Man that's hard to read.

Her boyfriend dug Steph out, oof.

I want to read the full report on everything that happened as there are mixed info right now, and on the other hand I don't want to read it at all. it will be so f'n sad.
02-08-2021, 02:54 PM
summit

so sad

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redacted by user

It looks like one in the parties submitted an obs right beforehand.

https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/58953

mind boggling
02-08-2021, 03:03 PM
davjr96

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dshack89

Man that's hard to read.

Out of everything I've read, this one hit me the hardest. I don't know them at all, heck I don't know anyone in the state of Utah. But I'm around their age. If we had met we probably would have been friends and I probably would have been out there with them.
02-09-2021, 12:32 PM
GoldMember

Damnit. This is so sad. We just learned that my SIL's nephew is Sarah's boyfriend who dug her out. He's obviously devastated. My SIL asked for prayers for him as he deals with this tragedy. The long term impacts for him and all involved will be very damaging, I'm sure. So young...
02-09-2021, 02:47 PM
RonMexico

Did I read the article correctly that one of the deaths was the group skinning while the other three were from the descending/triggering group?
02-09-2021, 03:11 PM
Danno

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonMexico

Did I read the article correctly that one of the deaths was the group skinning while the other three were from the descending/triggering group?

that's what the article said, but I'd hesitate to draw any conclusions about the trigger until we see an official report.
02-09-2021, 03:40 PM
wra

According to the article in today's Tribune both parties were ascending.
02-09-2021, 04:09 PM
beaterdit

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonMexico

Did I read the article correctly that one of the deaths was the group skinning while the other three were from the descending/triggering group?

Quote:

Originally Posted by wra

According to the article in today's Tribune both parties were ascending.

Updated UAC prelim report also says both parties were ascending.
02-09-2021, 04:16 PM
RonMexico

And a 31 degree slop angle...
02-09-2021, 05:17 PM
sfotex

The party of 5 came in from BCC and was skinning up they had already done a few laps when the slope broke. Someone in their group had set out that lap and was on top already. When the slope broke it caught the 4 that were skinning and the party of 3 that had started from Mill Creek. 7 were caught/carried, with 6 fully buried.. The person from top came down, and along with the partially buried skier and dug out the rest of the victims.
02-09-2021, 05:29 PM
teleee

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfotex

But after this weekend, I feel like I need to scream from the rooftops about chilling the fuck out. How do I/my team do that?
Fuck, it was my sons birthday Sunday, and I was shoving 4 bodies in bags and throwing them in net. My daughter asked me what dead people looked like?

I really don't want attention (I would post anonymously...) , but I feel like I/my teammates stories could possibly saves lives?

We were watching people drop steep high north lines on Sunday from the helicopter. WTF?

And we're not a group of people that haven't sipped the sweet nectar of blower powder -- and we have been caught and released, we get it.....

The party of 5 came in from BCC and was skinning up they had already done a few laps when the slope broke. Someone in their group had set out that lap and was on top already. When the slope broke it caught the 4 that were skinning and the party of 3 that had started from Mill Creek. 7 were caught/carried, with 6 fully buried.. The person from top came down, and along with the partially buried skier and dug out the rest of the victims.

Thank you very much for doing what you do. I tried to do the search and rescue gig right out of college and the first body bag ruined me forever. I think your experience and relating the facts as well as the reality of what the aftermath really looks like can do wonders for the community. I for one thinks it reigns me in when I want to get after it. But I'm an old fuck so what do I know.
PS Hope you don't mind that I brought your comment in from the Wasatch thread, I think it is very powerful and bears repeating.
02-09-2021, 05:37 PM
Bunion 2020

3 Attachment(s)

Super fortunate there was someone in the group chomping at the bit to get up top again.

The photos sure make the slope look a lot steeper than 31 Deg.Attachment 362107 Attachment 362108

then you see this one.Attachment 362109
02-09-2021, 05:41 PM
snowaddict91

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleee

Thank you very much for doing what you do. I tried to do the search and rescue gig right out of college and the first body bag ruined me forever. I think your experience and relating the facts as well as the reality of what the aftermath really looks like can do wonders for the community. I for one thinks it reigns me in when I want to get after it. But I'm an old fuck so what do I know.
PS Hope you don't mind that I brought your comment in from the Wasatch thread, I think it is very powerful and bears repeating.

My first body bag experience didn't hit me till a week or two after the fact. We had 3 recoveries in less than two weeks and most of us were on at least two of the missions. I'll never forget the feeling when I found that fisherman face down in the river. That summer changed how I approached safety in the mountains.
02-09-2021, 05:48 PM
sfotex

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunion 2020

Super fortunate there was someone in the group chomping at the bit to get up top again.

The photos sure make the slope look a lot steeper than 31 Deg.

The crown was 31 degrees, mid slope was 32-34.

In the first photo everyone that was caught was deposited in the evergreen trees on the left/center side of the photo.
02-09-2021, 05:53 PM
Bunion 2020

28 sounding better and better.
02-09-2021, 05:56 PM
sfotex

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunion 2020

28 sounding better and better.

I think the place I skate ski at maxes out at 10 degrees, that's good enough for me this season.
02-09-2021, 06:00 PM
tgapp

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunion 2020

28 sounding better and better.

no kidding. gonna go rip around on the kusalas in low angle pow. this is the season of meadow skipping.
02-09-2021, 06:03 PM
MTT

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleee

Thank you very much for doing what you do. I tried to do the search and rescue gig right out of college and the first body bag ruined me forever. I think your experience and relating the facts as well as the reality of what the aftermath really looks like can do wonders for the community. I for one thinks it reigns me in when I want to get after it. But I'm an old fuck so what do I know.
PS Hope you don't mind that I brought your comment in from the Wasatch thread, I think it is very powerful and bears repeating.

Diddo.
When I read his post I didn't have anything constructive to say. But thought no one is thinking about the toll this takes on the SAR people.
02-09-2021, 06:06 PM
snowaddict91

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTT

Diddo.
When I read his post I didn't have anything constructive to say. But thought no one is thinking about the toll this takes on the SAR people.

Yup. And at some point there needs to be a conversation about paid, professional SAR in the US, especially somewhere like SLC. To any of you reading this, thank you for doing what you do.
02-09-2021, 06:17 PM
Foggy_Goggles

Anyone want to draw the skin track in on one of those photos?
02-09-2021, 06:25 PM
bodywhomper

I hope SAR, survivors, and family/friends involved all have the opportunity and availability for mental health assistance. I know it’s not always easily available.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgapp

no kidding. gonna go rip around on the kusalas in low angle pow. this is the season of meadow skipping.

This is a huge benefit of fat skis.
02-09-2021, 06:47 PM
jackattack

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowaddict91

Yup. And at some point there needs to be a conversation about paid, professional SAR in the US, especially somewhere like SLC. To any of you reading this, thank you for doing what you do.

yes, a million times yes.
02-09-2021, 06:58 PM
sfotex

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowaddict91

Yup. And at some point there needs to be a conversation about paid, professional SAR in the US, especially somewhere like SLC. To any of you reading this, thank you for doing what you do.

The biggest thing that is trying to get funded right now is money for 2nd DPS helicopter/base down south. The DPS helicopter was on the way back from Emery county when we called them. LifeFlight is ncredible, but they are limited on what they are allowed to do. If we needed to get a dog on Saturday, it was going to have to happen with DPS. (there was no place to land, and we can't hoist dogs in, DPS could have possibly gotten one in with a skid load.)

https://kutv.com/news/local/dps-heli...get-falls-flat

So, if you like calling state reps and such, there you go.
02-09-2021, 07:07 PM
sfotex

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

Anyone want to draw the skin track in on one of those photos?

I'm going to let the UAC draw that in, it was a such a mess in there...
02-09-2021, 08:27 PM
glademaster

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

Anyone want to draw the skin track in on one of those photos?

So it's acceptable to ask those kind of questions here, but not when it happens in Colorado. Got it, you hypocritical shitbag.

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