Berthoud Pass 1st Creek Avy Fatality

[Foggy_Goggles]

What was his level of experience and what source do you have for your answer? Honest question. I've heard he was an accomplished climber from Boulder.

[powdork]

https://www.facebook.com/darek.krol.568

He appears to have been an experienced skier, climber, ice climber, etc. Definitely someone who owns gear and should have known what he was getting into.

[whipski]

a momentary lapse of reason

picked up a hitcher heading from WP to LL on a storm chase. Nice local guy, a carpenter on a dawn patrol before work. If it's the chute I'm thinking of it's prominent low lying fruit easily accessed by car shuttle. Tagged along on his second run. It was a sweet run. A hasty pit looked good. Got a release of the over night snow which did not propagate with a ski cut at the top. There are so many sweet looking chutes and faces wherever your home zone is that call out. Be vigilant follow protocol don't let low lying fruit lure you into delusion.

[Hacksaw]

Left to right, who?

[Bunion 2020]

Wright/Gilmour/Mason. No Waters cause he is a bitter old fuck. You know, the PF version of Benny.

[Danno]

What was his level of experience and what source do you have for your answer? Honest question. I've heard he was an accomplished climber from Boulder.

as I already noted, I retracted my first statement and said that I am not sure about him being an experienced skier, I may have misunderstood what I saw on FB. I saw him described by a very experienced skier in a post about skiing as "one of Boulder's finest", but realize that I could have misinterpreted that and it might not mean anything related to his skiing. Still, a 57 year old guy who has lived in Colorado for what appears to be a long time, and skis, would be hard pressed to know nothing about avalanches. But that doesn't mean he was a very experienced backcountry skier, which is why I backed off my first statement.

[ballackout]

https://www.mountainproject.com/foru...sage-120127885

[cravenmorhead]

Final report is up. https://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/a...=766&accfm=inv

Super, super weak snow. Significant traumatic injuries. RIP.

[Danno]

https://www.denverpost.com/2020/12/3...adliest-month/

This says he is an experienced skier, but not an experienced backcountry skier. So just the kind of accident people have been worried about this year.

I edited my posts in this thread to note that my earlier description of him as supposedly experienced were incorrect.

[powdork]

https://www.denverpost.com/2020/12/3...adliest-month/

This says he is an experienced skier, but not an experienced backcountry skier. So just the kind of accident people have been worried about this year.

I edited my posts in this thread to note that my earlier description of him as supposedly experienced were incorrect.

Couldn't read because paywall but....
Then what does it take to be experienced? On his FB page there are numerous pictures of him booting up couloirs and skinning/skiing in the backcountry. He's been doing it for years. Ice climbers also have to be aware of avalanche risk.

For instance, I know anyone off the street can buy an airbag, but it would be unusual.

[galibier_numero_un]

https://www.mountainproject.com/foru...sage-120127885

Damn. Seems like a righteous fellow.


... Thom

[Danno]

Couldn't read because paywall but....
Then what does it take to be experienced? On his FB page there are numerous pictures of him booting up couloirs and skinning/skiing in the backcountry. He's been doing it for years. Ice climbers also have to be aware of avalanche risk.

For instance, I know anyone off the street can buy an airbag, but it would be unusual.

I only know what the article said (you can get around the paywall if needed). Relevant snippets:

His death offers a cautionary tale: While an expert skier, Krol was far less experienced outside resort boundaries.

He recently bought a backcountry touring setup, said a close friend, Ed McKeown.

“He was not a savvy backcountry guy,” McKeown lamented of his friend, who was so attentive to detail in climbing and other endeavors.

But I agree, there is evidence to the contrary. Heck, the article has this picture of him and his daughter both with backcountry gear (but the article also said his daughter was on snowshoes the day of the accident, so maybe they just booted up in alpine gear on the day this pic was taken):


Regardless of those details, the facts are that he went solo and he didn't have gear with him. And tragically died.

[adrenalated]

Regardless of those details, the facts are that he went solo and he didn't have gear with him. And tragically died.

And chose to do so in an avalanche path with significant consequences

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I haven't skied it but looks like a terrain trap, no?

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[adrenalated]

I haven't skied it but looks like a terrain trap, no?

Here's an image of Chimney Chute (the prominent funnel in the center of the photo)

[Kinnikinnick]

So his daughter was waiting at the bottom? Heart breaking.



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[powdork]

Compare that with this from caic to get a clear idea where he went. His final loation is not visible in the pic

[galibier_numero_un]

Here's an image of Chimney Chute (the prominent funnel in the center of the photo)

Wow! Skiing this line, in the current snowpack. Just ... wow.

... Thom

[The SnowShow]

Wow! Skiing this line, in the current snowpack. Just ... wow.

... Thom

My exact thoughts. Vibes to all involved.

[ASmileyFace]

I've sold more full backcountry set ups to older, experienced (self admittedly in-bounds) skiers this season than any other demographic.

I believe, this group is at a particularly elevated risk this season. They are approaching retirement age (aka lots of extra time), well-funded, and have the desire to avoid the COVID crowds in the resort. My dad is one of the these folks. I've had to talk him out of going solo touring on, "terrain he skied a hundred times when berthoud was a ski resort."

I just try my best to remind folks that education the the best way to avoid avalanches and to stay safe out there.

RIP Darek Krol. Vibes to all who knew him.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I've sold more full backcountry set ups to older, experienced (self admittedly in-bounds) skiers this season than any other demographic.

I believe, this group is at a particularly elevated risk this season. They are approaching retirement age (aka lots of extra time), well-funded, and have the desire to avoid the COVID crowds in the resort. My dad is one of the these folks. I've had to talk him out of going solo touring on, "terrain he skied a hundred times when berthoud was a ski resort."

I just try my best to remind folks that education the the best way to avoid avalanches and to stay safe out there.

RIP Darek Krol. Vibes to all who knew hi,.

That's interesting and scary.

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[teledad]

Then what does it take to be experienced? On his FB page there are numerous pictures of him booting up couloirs and skinning/skiing in the backcountry. He's been doing it for years

Big difference between evaluating hazards in spring mountaineering season vs. early winter in a continental snowpack. Also (as we all know) plenty of people with years of experience make mistakes (usually getting away with it, occasionally not).

Regardless of those details, the facts are that he went solo and he didn't have gear with him. And tragically died.

From the report it didn't sound like gear or a partner would have helped (aside from helping SAR with the recovery). The main problem was skiing that line in the current conditions.

Obviously a talented guy, putting up 5.13b routes in his late 50s is impressive. RIP.

[powdork]

Big difference between evaluating hazards in spring mountaineering season vs. early winter in a continental snowpack. Also (as we all know) plenty of people with years of experience make mistakes (usually getting away with it, occasionally not).

Yeah but we're not, or at least I'm not talking about that level of experience. I'm talking about having enough experience to know to check the forecast. Enough to know that three people had died in the recent week as a result of the sketchy pack.

One thing that has been biting at me as well is the possibility of having a few beers. Holiday weekend hanging out at the pass with the family. I would be.

[glademaster]

There's really no place in this thread for a baseless accusation about drug-induced impairment being responsible.

A lot of people are more principled than you when it comes to saving intoxicants for AFTER they've finished their ski days. Touring and impaired judgement don't mix. Leave that shit at home. The beers don't get cracked until the truck is unloaded, the gear is put away, and I'm out of my ski clothes.

[Foggy_Goggles]

While, I agree with you about the victim and the beers thing, a commitment to having the truck unloaded before wetting the whistle is robbing yourself of one of the simple pleasures of skiing.