Slide at Abasin

**cmsummit** · 05-20-2005, 02:22 PM

How does it originally get reported that the slide was in a closed area? The media fucking sucks and they'll do ANYTHING to sensationalize a story.

**Bloomy** · 05-20-2005, 02:23 PM

The slide started in an open area and entered the 1st Alley which is a pretty wide pocket in the trees. It's just another marked trail on the hill.

**sftc** · 05-20-2005, 02:24 PM

Mt. Man,
9 news in Denver is reporting it was a 40-year old male snowboarder that was killed.

**Dantheman** · 05-20-2005, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Bloomy

The slide started in an open area and entered the 1st Alley which is a pretty wide pocket in the trees. It's just another marked trail on the hill.

Holy shit, sucks to be A-Basin Patrol or management right now

**Mtn Man** · 05-20-2005, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by sftc

Mt. Man,
9 news in Denver is reporting it was a 40-year old male snowboarder that was killed.

Just concerned about anyone that they didn't find. They called off the search due to the hangfire, therefore there may still be more. Just trying to get more details since she's out there alone. Now that I'm hearing that it was open, getting a little freaked, especially since that's the stuff that she skis.

B)

**Below Zero** · 05-20-2005, 02:35 PM

I'll be pouring out a little liquor tonight for this guy. So scary since it could of been anyone one of us. So thankful that Telechuck and Bloomy are OK!

**Mtn Man** · 05-20-2005, 02:37 PM

Looks like she's OK, just talked to her. She said it was open over there too. She commented that it was the last day on that chair too. She was headed over there when it slid.

B)

**shera** · 05-20-2005, 02:40 PM

DAMNIT!!! I hope there's nobody else in there.

I was out skiing with a CAIC guy today when the call came in. FACK. Two days ago I posted this on ttips:

One thing I'd like to mention about the snow on Pali yesterday and in the sisters the day before, which my friend skied - same northish aspect and going from treeline down a few hundred feet - Anyway, the snow was scary because you would just punch several feet through at any given moment. The really warm temps from the day before have gotten it completely unhinged underneath. It was cooler yesterday - hopefully things will straighten themselves out.

Above treeline is looking better and better.

FACK. Between the Buffalo slide and this one, I am REALLY wishing I had talked to a lot more people a lot louder about what I've been seeing as far as the snow goes. FACK.

**Mountain Junkie** · 05-20-2005, 02:53 PM

RIP.

So, what's going on with the snowpack? Just curious whats behind all of this activity. It seems like the snowpack is unusually tender right now. I'm guessing it is due to a deeper than average snow pack, coupled with very mild temps up until this week?

Hey, Joe Ben is still kicking it in Summit? The dude has probably been on SAR for 10 years.

**shera** · 05-20-2005, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Mountain Junkie

RIP.

So, what's going on with the snowpack? Just curious whats behind all of this activity. It seems like the snowpack is unusually tender right now. I'm guessing it is due to a deeper than average snow pack, coupled with very mild temps up until this week?

Hey dude, I'll get to your PM asap. In the meantime, I can say that I skied an east aspect today at 12500 at 11:00 am and had perfect corn turns.

**Mtn Man** · 05-20-2005, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mountain Junkie

RIP.

So, what's going on with the snowpack? Just curious whats behind all of this activity. It seems like the snowpack is unusually tender right now. I'm guessing it is due to a deeper than average snow pack, coupled with very mild temps up until this week?

From what it sounds like, there was a quick thaw/freeze before the last dump. This caused the snow to bond slightly during the cold temps and things were stable. But the mild weather over the past days has compromised the bond a few feet deep and they're starting to release.

JMHO, not even seeing what happened....

B)

**mr_gyptian** · 05-20-2005, 03:03 PM

so this is another that is due to the rocks/ground heating up?

**Core Shot** · 05-20-2005, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by jonpierre

looks pretty nasty, wet and deep

FACK!!
that pic says it all.
Condolences and ++ vibes to the victim, family and friends.
Hope there are no more under there.

**telechuck** · 05-20-2005, 03:08 PM

I just got home from the Basin. Gonna drink a beer. The area was totally open, they didn't close it until the slide.

I know that area gets skied so much, it freaks me out that it could slide like that. It broke as a slab, just above the trees at the first alley. I scoped it with binoculars when I left and there is definitely some nasty looking hangfire. If that goes, I would think it will go through the 2nd alley.

Like someone said earlier, it went into the first alley and spilled out onto the lower sections of Pali and stopped just above the Pali Wag traverse. The debris pile was rumored to be 220cm or about 7ft deep. That sounds about right from looking at it.

Probing the whole thing will take a while as they will have to hit every pocket and tree in the alley.

RIP to the poor bloke out enjoying a nice spring day.

Temps were really high. 50 on Loveland Pass at 9:30 and 63 in the Loveland parking lot on my way home at 1:00.

**Mr.Scruff** · 05-20-2005, 03:16 PM

Don't wanna sound a bit jong, but don't American resorts have avanlanche patrols etc.? In Europe they're out with the explosives from 5am.

**Cornholio** · 05-20-2005, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Mr.Scruff

Don't wanna sound a bit jong, but don't American resorts have avanlanche patrols etc.? In Europe they're out with the explosives from 5am.

That's part of the reason why this is so tragic.

**STD** · 05-20-2005, 03:19 PM

this sucks.

this is a great reminder for all of us that "skier compaction" doesn't make a snowpack 'safer' or more stable.

Mother Nature has a way of humbling us from time to time.

**skideeppow** · 05-20-2005, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Mountain Junkie

RIP.

So, what's going on with the snowpack? Just curious whats behind all of this activity. It seems like the snowpack is unusually tender right now. I'm guessing it is due to a deeper than average snow pack, coupled with very mild temps up until this week?

I have been up high (from 13000 down) last sat, tues and wed. There are huge temp increases which are melting snow. ALl these Days we were skiing north then ne and exiting with west facing at the latest time of 1100pm. I do not believe it is deep freezing at night. This makes for some super unstablke conditions. If you are going to go out, go early or do not go.
I am 8000 feet right now and it has to be close to 85 in the sun.

**HyRUPz** · 05-20-2005, 03:32 PM

Humbled.

Pray brothers and sisters it's only 1 person

**jdawg50** · 05-20-2005, 03:33 PM

That is nuts.... Scary stuff Its like 90 degrees here today... so the snow is melting like mad right now

**Phatstix** · 05-20-2005, 03:33 PM

SDP is right - it needs a deep freeze... This is a major bummer.

**iskibc** · 05-20-2005, 03:34 PM

That pic is haunting.

Skideeppow,

Yeah, I'm putting off those plans for another week in hoping the overnight temps will cooperate and get us back on track for a nice freeze-thaw cycle. Thanks for the concern and heads up though. Much appreciated.

Everyone be extra cautious this weekend. Let's hope this is the last round for the season.

**BENDOR** · 05-20-2005, 03:53 PM

Thoughts and prayers to the victims friends and fam.... crazy

**freshie247** · 05-20-2005, 04:04 PM

Amazing tragedy! RIP! I'm shocked it slid so early in the day. This heat wave & global warming in general F*cking suck !!!!

The snow pack is average to below average this year.We didn't get quite as much at the end of April & beginning of May last year.

It's definately not freezing at night for this to happen. I can't believe where it fractured as well. This is most likely going to get very ugly for A-Basin,& affect operations there .

**skifishbum** · 05-20-2005, 04:14 PM

Heartfelt condolances to all invoved.
Props to all the patrol and SAR personal. Been a long season and I'm sure the rewards about now are outweighed by the shear amount of work their day involves.
Hopefully just this one unfourtnate Rider of the Snow, who perished doing what he loved, was caught in this slide.
Godspeed his soul to it's destination.

Thread: Slide at Abasin

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