Disturbing CO numbers

[Micol]

Rather disturbing numbers in last couple of years for reported avi incidents.
Source CAIC

Colorado Summary
Year............Reported Incidents
02-03..............10
03-04...............4
04-05..............12
05-06...............3
06-07...............7
07-08...............13
08-09................8
09-10...............32+ (+ about 10 incidents from Oct/Nov not on CAIC now)
10-11...............12 thru Dec 20 (on track for another record)

2010-2011 SEASON
2 Colorado fatalities
Activity Caught Buried Killed
Skier † 7 1 1
Snowboarder † 2 0 0
Snowmobiler 1 0 0
Snowshoer/Climber/Hiker 3 0 0
Other 1 1 1
Total 14 2 2
† Inbounds skier/boarder 1 1 1

Date Location Description Caught Buried Killed
12/20 Marble Peak Solo skier caught and partially buried. No injuries. 1 0 0
12/12 Near Jones Pass, Front Range 1 snowmobiler caught, partly buried. 1 0 0
12/11 Peak 13,419 near Eureka, North San Juans 3 climbers caught, 1 partially buried 3 0 0
12/05 Dry Gulch-East of Eisenhower Tunnel 2 skiers caught, 1 partially buried, 1 buried and killed 2 1 1
12/02 Redwell Basin, Ruby Range 1 skier caught, carried, injured 1 0 0
11/25 La Plata Peak, Northwest Ridge Avalanche triggered by climbers, no-one caught 0 0 0
11/22 Wolf Creek Pass Ski Area, Glory Hole Point Ski Patroller caught, buried and killed 1 1 1
11/20 Woods Creek, near Butler Gulch 1 skier caught, partly buried 1 0 0
11/16 Berthoud Pass, Nitro Chute 1 snowboarded caught, carried, injured 1 0 0
11/15 † "Corkscrew" Peru Creek 1 skier and 1 dog caught 1 0 0
11/12 Midnight Ride, Independence Bowl, Keystone 1 skier on ascent, caught and carried 1 0 0
10/24 Mt. Baldy - North Bowl, Crested Butte 1 snowboarder, on foot, caught and not buried 1 0 0
† Estimated


2009-2010 SEASON
8 Colorado fatalities
Activity Caught Buried Killed
Skier † 11 5 3
Snowboarder † 6 2 2
Snowmobiler 1 1 1
Snowshoer/Climber/Hiker 6 2 2
Other 7 2 0
Total 31 12 8
† Inbounds skier/boarder 0 0 0

Date Location Description Caught Buried Killed
05/30 Hagerman Peak Two climbers caught 2 0 0
05/21 Dead Dog Couloir, Torreys Peak 1 climber caught, caried over cliffs, injured 1 0 0
05/16 Silver Creek Bowl, Mt. Yale, Sawatch Range 1 skier caught, carried 1 0 0
05/01 Tenmile Peak (Peak 2), Tenmile Range 1 snowboarder caught, carried, and inured. 1 0 0
04/24 Castle Peak, Elk Range 1 skier caught, carried 0 0 0
03/30 † Near Baldy Peak, southeast of Ridgway 1 ice climber, approaching on skis, caught, buried, killed 1 1 1
03/23 Star Mountain (path 1 or A) Skier triggered avalanche, no-one caught 0 0 0
03/21 Peak 12,442 (Battleship Avalanche Path) NW of Silverton 2 skiers caught and carried 2 0 0
03/19 Southwest of Creede 2 people caught, buried and killed in a roof avalanche 2 2 2
03/14 Ruby Jewel Basin, State Forest State Park 1 skier caught and buried 1 1 0
03/12 Mt Antora 1 snowmobiler, caught and killed 1 1 1
03/10 Steep Gully #1, backcountry near Arapahoe Basin Ski Area 1 snowboarder partially buried critical and killed 1 1 1
03/07 Cliff Lake Overlook, Flattops-White River National Forest 1 snowmobiler caught, not buried 0 0 0
03/03 Floral Park, Berthoud Pass 2 S&R caught, carried, partially buried 2 0 0
03/02 Floral Park, Berthoud Pass 1 snowboarder caught, partially buried and injured 1 0 0
02/26 Ophir Gulch, Aspen Mountain Side Country 2 skiers caught, 1 fully buried and injured 2 1 0
02/26 South of Arapaho Lakes, west of Rollinsville 1 skier caught, fully buried 1 1 0
02/23 Ashcroft- Near Lindley Hut 1 skier caught, buried, and killed 1 1 1
02/15 Above Forest Lakes, Moffat Tunnel 2 skiers caught, not buried 0 0 0
02/14 "No Brain" near MM 224, Loveland Pass Snowboarder caught, partially buried on road 1 0 0
02/14 Mt Yeckel, Near Margy's Hut above the town of Lenado 4 skiers caught, 1 carried and not buried, 1 carried, injured but not buried 2 0 0
02/14 "Zero" Creek, north of Berthoud Pass 1 skier caught, partially buried-critical 0 0 0
02/11 Near Ridgway Hut, Sneffels Range 2 skiers caught, 1 fully buried, 1 killed 2 1 1
01/27 East Vail Chutes 1 skier caught and buried 1 0 0
01/25 Near Irwin Lodge, west of Crested Butte Snowmobiler caught and partially buried in remotely triggered avalanche 1 0 0
01/11 No Name Peak, Berthoud Pass Cornice broke under person, caught, carried, not buried 1 0 0
01/08 Approximately 0.5 miles west of Rabbit Ears Pass 1 snowmobiler caught, partially buried 0 0 0
01/07 Mushroom Bowl, outside Vail Mountain ski area 1 skier caught, partially buried critical, rescued by voice. 1 1 0
01/06 † Battle Mountain - outside Vail Mountain ski area 1 snowboader caught, partially buried critical and killed 1 1 1
01/06 Picayne Gulch 1 skier caught, partially buried 0 0 0
01/03 Four miles NE of Silverton 1 snowboarder caught, partially buried 1 0 0
12/27 Kebler, CO 2 skiers caught, 1 partially buried, 1 buried 0 0 0
† Estimated


2008-09
February 15, 2009. Torreys Peak. Skier triggered avalanche, no-one caught.
January 29, 2009. Bear Creek. One skier caught, partially buried-critical, and injured.
January 16, 2009. Near Eiseman Hut, Gore Range. 3 buried and self-rescued.
December 27, 2008. Gravel Mountain, north of Granby. 3 snowmobilers caught, 1 partially buried, 2 buried and killed.
December 27, 2008. Shrine Mountain, south of Vail Pass. Large avalanche triggered by snowmobile, no-one caught
December 17, 2008, Northwest of Crested Butte. 1 snowboarder buried and killed.
December 14, 2008, Near Aspen Ski Area. 1 skier buried and killed.
December 14, 2008, Vail Ski Area. 1 inbounds skier partially buried.

2007-08
February 8, 2008, Cement Creek (Crested Butte)
February 1, 2008, Little Box Canyon
January 12, 2008, East Vail Backcountry
January 10, 2008, Little Bear Peak
January 8, 2008, Dave's Wave, Loveland Pass
January 6, 2008, Cottonwood Pass
January 4, 2008, East Vail Backcountry
December 31, 2007, Gravel Mountain
December 30, 2007, Mount Massive
December 30, 2007, Lost Lake
December 18, 2007, East Vail Backcountry
December 2, 2007, Cameron Pass
November 14, 2007, Jones Pass

2006-07
March 13, 2007, Ruby Jewel Bowl
March 13, 2007, Mount Shimer
March 3, 2007, Echo Lake
February 4, 2007, North Mountain
January 6, 2007, Stanley Slide Path
December 31, 2006, Loveland Pass
December 21, 2006, Snowmass

2005-06
January 1, 2006, Trap Park
December 22, 2005, Kelso Mountain
November 6, 2005, Berthoud Pass

2004-05
May 20, 2005, Arapahoe Basin
May 18, 2005, Buffalo Mountain, Gore Range
April 6, 2005, Peak 6, Tenmile Range
April 1, 2005, Grand Mesa
March 27, 2005, Jones Pass
March 24, 2005, Quandary Peak
March 6, 2005, Five Fingers, Aspen
February 26, 2005, Whitehouse Mountain
February 13, 2005, Red Mountain Pass
January 12, 2005, The Cleaver, Marble
January 3, 2005, Soda Mountain, Buffalo Pass
November 21, 2004, Eureka

2003-04
April 9, 2004, Browns Peak
March 20, 2004, La Plata Peak
March 10, 2004, Mt Guyot, Georgia Pass
February 15, 2004, Herman Gulch

2002-03
Late March, 2003, Chasm Meadow
March 23, 2003, Silver Plume
March 22, 2003, Burro Peak
March 20, 2003, Porcupine Peak
March 9, 2003, Ptarmigan Lake
March 5, 2003, Hancock Pass
February 22, 2003, Elkhead Pass, Mount Belford
February 17, 2003, Dry Gulch
January 19, 2003, Butler Gulch
November 16, 2002, Quandary Peak

[karpiel]

Culling the herd.

[chepora]

What's disturbing? There are hundreds of people skiing in the backcountry every day...I'm not sure which part of some of them dying or triggering slides is the problem??
We have a dangerous snowpack and lots of users days...kinda like boating the Gauley, eventually someones gonna find their ticket.

[Micol]

Guess I should have been more clear. More ppl = more incidents...lots more incidents

[SnowBigDeal]

Good Post; definitely something to think about.

Do you think the increased numbers have anything to do with more people reporting the avy incidents? Whereas in prior years there may have been just as many incidents, but they didn't get reported?

[Name Redacted]

Definitely the result of more reports. I can name two from 02-03 that are not listed.

This could be a good thing, more reports means that maybe more people are avy-savy and making more reports. This means more data to be used in the future.

[The_Lorax]

Good Post; definitely something to think about.

Do you think the increased numbers have anything to do with more people reporting the avy incidents? Whereas in prior years there may have been just as many incidents, but they didn't get reported?

i agree. i think there's more incidents now because more are being reported.

[Alaskan Rover]

Am I the only one who mistook that title as "Disturbing carbon monoxide numbers"??

But since we're talking snow-particular events, anyone thought about juxtaposing those fatality numbers with yearly snowfall totals and springtime average temperatures per annum?

[backcountryislife]

I really hate looking at those stats & knowing I'm one of those incidents... After around 17 years in the bc, I finally made the mistake that almost cost me. Sure makes you think even more each time though after a true close call.

I really think that reports are going up as education increases. In the sledding side I see a large increase in people who are now reporting non-fatals in an attempt to help others, whereas a couple years ago they would have just limped away & said nothing.

I see the reports (non-fatals) as progression toward people being more conscious of the "community" as compared to simply looking at it as an individual thing.

[Micol]

I really hate looking at those stats & knowing I'm one of those incidents... After around 17 years in the bc, I finally made the mistake that almost cost me. Sure makes you think even more each time though after a true close call.

I really think that reports are going up as education increases. In the sledding side I see a large increase in people who are now reporting non-fatals in an attempt to help others, whereas a couple years ago they would have just limped away & said nothing.

I see the reports (non-fatals) as progression toward people being more conscious of the "community" as compared to simply looking at it as an individual thing.

Frequency seems to play a role for sure. Take all the right steps but the more you are out there the more likely something will happen at some point. I don't want to be the doom and gloom guy, but the numbers are a factor.

The Scott Kay fatality (RIP) at Wolf Creek in November , 2010 really shook me up. Director of Patrol 15 years, inbounds, yes on control work detail solo, but not a huge
line by any means. And, it was reported the Mountain wasnt open but I was the fifth person on the lift that morning and it was real close to being open or was. They were frantic at the top and closed the lift after they cleared the chairs. And, that was inbounds. Scott Kay was out a lot , 150 days + So, are many of us.

I still believe more films showing skiers and riders on high consequence lines, main stream ski magazine coverage of back country, and equipment improvements are making access easier and increasing the number of people out there. I believe I've seen an uptick in ppl out and about. Hell, there are even more tracks on the side of the road on steep angles with consequence that have easy and quick access then I have seen in years past.

[Micol]

Good Post; definitely something to think about.

Do you think the increased numbers have anything to do with more people reporting the avy incidents? Whereas in prior years there may have been just as many incidents, but they didn't get reported?

I think both. But, I'm no expert and just judging from what I have seen with my own eyes, parking lot and pull over points, etc

[fshot]

Global storming.

It is inevitable that this will continue. Look at the winter the West US has had this year....avi craziness ensues

[Micol]

2010-2011 SEASON 35 Reported Accidents *
Be Careful this year!

7 Colorado fatalities
Activity Caught Buried Killed
Skier † 20 5 3
Snowboarder † 9 3 2
Snowmobiler 3 1 1
Snowshoer/Climber/Hiker 5 0 0
Other 5 1 1
Total 42 10 7
† Inbounds skier/boarder 1 1 1

Date Location Description Caught Buried Killed
06/18 Iron Mountain, Cameron Pass 1 skier caught and carried 1 0 0
05/21 Torreys Peak 1 snowboarder caught and killed 1 0 1
05/12 Rocky Mountain National Park, near Embryo Lake 1 snowshoer caught, partially buried 1 0 0
04/27 Headwall, Snowmass (closed for season) 1 skier caught, partly buried 1 0 0
04/04 Highlands Ridge, Desolation Row, Aspen zone 1 skier caught and killed 1 1 1
04/02 Green Mountain, west side of Independence Pass 1 skier caught, carried, and partially buried 1 0 0
04/01 Devil's Tool, near Arapahoe Basin 1 snowboarder and 1 skier caught, 1 (snowboarder) fully buried, 1 (ski) injured 2 1 0
03/18 N. Ridge Peak 1 One snowboarder caught, escaped to grab a tree and watched the slide go by. 0 0 0
03/08 Waterfall Canyon, Ophir Valley 1 snowboarder caught, fully buried. 1 skier caught, partly buried. 2 1 0
02/27 Gunbarrel Cutbank, Monarch Pass 1 skier caught, partially buried-critical 1 1 0
02/26 North Face San Bernardo Pk, Lizard Head Pass 1 skier caught, carried 1 0 0
02/22 East Snowmass Creek Valley, Sand's Chute 1 Skier caught, fully buried, and killed 1 1 1
02/20 Sand Peak-Flat Tops 1 snowmobiler caught, buried and killed 2 1 1
02/19 Express Creek (west of Markley Hut) 4 skiers caught on ascent, partially buried 4 0 0
01/29 Uneva Peak, Vail Pass 1 snowboarder caught, partially buried and injured 1 0 0
01/26 Cement Fill 1 rider caught, injured 1 0 0
01/23 West Willow drainage, Snowmass sidecountry Solo skier caught, fully buried, self rescued 1 1 0
01/17 "High Trail Cliffs," northeast of Berthoud Pass 1 snowboarder (and dog) caught, buried, and killed 1 1 1
01/17 Officer's Gulch 1 ice climber caught and carried. 1 0 0
01/15 Above Cemetery avalanche path, Red Mountain Pass, North San Juans 1 splitboarder caught, partially buried 1 0 0
01/08 Maroon Bowl, Highlands Ridge 1 skier caught and partially buried 1 0 0
01/07 Mt. Yale 1 skier caught and carried 1 0 0
12/20 Marble Peak Solo skier caught, partially buried 1 0 0
12/12 Near Jones Pass, Front Range 1 snowmobiler caught, partly buried. 1 0 0
12/11 Peak 13,419 near Eureka, North San Juans 3 climbers caught, 1 partially buried 3 0 0
12/05 Dry Gulch-East of Eisenhower Tunnel 2 skiers caught, 1 partially buried, 1 buried and killed 2 1 1
12/02 Redwell Basin, Ruby Range 1 skier caught, carried, injured 1 0 0
11/25 La Plata Peak, Northwest Ridge Avalanche triggered by climbers, no-one caught 0 0 0
11/22 Wolf Creek Pass Ski Area, Glory Hole Point Ski patroller caught, buried and killed 1 1 1
11/21 † Grouse Cornice, Side Country Beaver Creek 1 skier caught, partly buried--not critical 1 0 0
11/20 Woods Creek, near Butler Gulch 1 skier caught, partly buried 1 0 0
11/16 Berthoud Pass, Nitro Chute 1 snowboarded caught, carried, injured 1 0 0
11/15 † "Corkscrew" Peru Creek 1 skier and 1 dog caught 1 0 0
11/12 Midnight Ride, Independence Bowl, Keystone 1 skier on ascent, caught and carried 1 0 0
10/24 Mt. Baldy - North Bowl, Crested Butte 1 snowboarder, on foot, caught and not buried 1 0 0
* Credit Info CAIC

[Micol]

Colorado Summary
Year............Reported Incidents
02-03..............10
03-04...............4
04-05..............12
05-06...............3
06-07...............7
07-08...............13
08-09................8
09-10...............32+ (+ about 10 incidents from Oct/Nov not on CAIC now)
10-11...............35
11-12................Hopefully less (not reports but incidents)

BTW: 1000th Post !!

[icelanticskier]

with the whole airbag craze, folks will be dropping lines while pulling cord left and right. lots and lots of reports wlll come in i'll bet. ah the airbag! hopefully they all work as they're supposed to.

rog

[Micol]

with the whole airbag craze, folks will be dropping lines while pulling cord left and right. lots and lots of reports wlll come in i'll bet. ah the airbag! hopefully they all work as they're supposed to.

rog

No doubt, I see airbags prominantly advertised in the latest Powder magazine. I've seen avy gear
reviews in mainstream magazines like Ski/Skiing. Wonder how it all shakes out.

[icelanticskier]

No doubt, I see airbags prominantly advertised in the latest Powder magazine. I've seen avy gear
reviews in mainstream magazines like Ski/Skiing. Wonder how it all shakes out.

airbags, the new recco

increasing numbers in the bc due to new technology. more folks full of hot air, less attention to................detail. gonna be a shitshow out there more than ever.

rog

[leroy jenkins]

Last two years were pretty big snow years in CO right? I wonder how the rest of those stats compare to the snowfall totals for the year.

[covert]

airbags, the new recco

increasing numbers in the bc due to new technology. more folks full of hot air, less attention to................detail. gonna be a shitshow out there more than ever.

rog

if it's anything like the shaped/fat/rockered ski fad we're fucked.

[icelanticskier]

if it's anything like the shaped/fat/rockered ski fad we're fucked.

truer words have never been spoken

rog