Vibes for Aaron

**stalefish3169** · 03-16-2014, 01:14 AM

Devastated. Although my time in HNS never overlapped with his, I know Aaron is a great guy. I just spoke with a friend at the hospital with him. As of 11 PM local time he was still unresponsive. Please send positive thoughts his way while he is fighting for his life.

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-no...ically_in.html

AK Beat: Heli-ski guide seriously injured in avalanche
Alaska Beat
March 15, 2014

A 31-year-old ski guide in Alaska was in critical condition after getting buried by an avalanche, Alaska State Troopers said Saturday.

Spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said Aaron Karitis was unconscious when he was pulled out from under 7 feet of snow Saturday morning. He was taken to a clinic in Haines and was expected to be flown to an Anchorage hospital. She did not know if he regained consciousness.

Karitis, a heli-skiing guide with Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures, was buried for about 30 minutes before his four clients and fellow guides rescued him. He was wearing a locator beacon.

The incident happened in the Kicking Horse Valley west of Haines. In heli-skiing, a helicopter drops the skiers on the mountain, and they ski down.

"It is backcountry downhill, and they're going to places where only very experienced skiers will go," Ipsen said.

Late winter and early spring is the prime season for avalanches. Karitis checked conditions for his clients about the 4,000-foot level and was concerned, Ipsen said.

"He was kind of troubled by the conditions, so they were going to move further along on the ridgeline," Ipsen said. "I don't know if they had actually started moving or were about to move. But after he made that decision, that's when the avalanche triggered."

She said the slide carried him more than 800 feet. None of his clients got caught in it.

The Haines-based company that employs Karitis declined to comment when contacted by the Anchorage Daily News, which first reported the incident.

A guide from the same outfit died in the Kicking Horse Valley in March 2013. In that incident, the guide and two clients fell down the mountain when an overhanging edge of snow gave way.

According to his biography on the company website, Karitis grew up in Bend, Ore., "where he was making his first turns at Mt. Bachelor about the same time he was taking his first steps."

He graduated from the University of Utah and had been working in the industry for 10 years. The website notes his excellent safety record.

**roverdoc** · 03-16-2014, 01:45 AM

Vibes. Hoping he pulls through.

**simple** · 03-16-2014, 07:18 AM

Hope he pulls through. Tough mofo to survive that. In our thoughts here

**Tap** · 03-16-2014, 07:30 AM

Shit. Saw Aaron just a few days ago, he was stoked for this part of the season. Please post updates if you can.

**RiderX** · 03-16-2014, 08:27 AM

Bummed. I just spoke with him last week. He was stoked to be going up to Haines. Thoughts go out to him and his family. Stay strong.

**::: :::** · 03-16-2014, 08:33 AM

My thoughts are with his family and friends...!

**Ted Shred** · 03-16-2014, 09:54 AM

Be strong Aaron! My thoughts are with him and the Seaba crew.

**ill-advised strategy** · 03-16-2014, 11:30 AM

Sad to hear, hoping for good news in the coming days.

**wstdeep** · 03-16-2014, 07:26 PM

Just talked to a buddy of mine in AK (one of the four not "two" clients who took the big ride last year) sounded bad....ugh

Tough buisness...hoping he pulls through.

**userA** · 03-16-2014, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Tap

Shit. Saw Aaron just a few days ago, he was stoked for this part of the season. Please post updates if you can.

thinking about your bro, tap.
b

**snapt** · 03-16-2014, 08:13 PM

Hoping for the best, sounds like a good dude.

**icelanticskier** · 03-17-2014, 06:20 AM

vibes

is this our aaron that posts here from time to time?

rog

**Tap** · 03-17-2014, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by icelanticskier

vibes

is this our aaron that posts here from time to time?

rog

No, different Aaron. Aaron Karitis, runs Pulseline Adventures, from Bend.

**icelanticskier** · 03-17-2014, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Tap

No, different Aaron. Aaron Karitis, runs Pulseline Adventures, from Bend.

strong posi vibes hoping he pulls through.

rog

**Tap** · 03-17-2014, 12:21 PM

god no. Rest In Peace, Aaron. so so sad.

**miahw2828** · 03-17-2014, 12:25 PM

oh man, postive thoughts sent for a good outcome

7 feet for 30 minutes no beuno

**Mofro261** · 03-17-2014, 01:21 PM

Sorry to lose another one. RIP Aaron.

**thepowderhound** · 03-17-2014, 01:36 PM

VIBES!!!

**itsnowjoke** · 03-17-2014, 03:41 PM

So sorry.

**stalefish3169** · 03-17-2014, 03:56 PM

Aaron was taken off life support today. So sad. RIP, man.

If it's any consolation at all, I was told his Mom and sister flew up to AK for his last moments.

This is crazy and hard to fathom. So many steep lines went down in AK for so long without much carnage, and now 3 guides (+ several clients) go down in three seasons. None of the guides were rookies at all and Aaron was on the bunny hill by AK standards. Unbelievable. Maybe I'll post a pic of the run after the dust settles if you guys think it's appropriate.

Z · 03-17-2014, 04:04 PM

I'm so sorry. RIP Aaron.

**JTrue** · 03-17-2014, 04:20 PM

RIP Aaron

**sierraskier** · 03-17-2014, 04:36 PM

fuck. condolences. not sure if I ever met Aaron but good, smart, talented people keep getting caught. and on tele bowl...has me seriously reconsidering my decision to go up there.