Bald Mtn Avalanche Fatality, CO -- April 29, 2023

[andy m]

This incident has been mentioned in other threads, but I thought it would be helpful to start its own thread. Yesterday, CAIC released a revised preliminary report with more information (and photos):

https://classic.avalanche.state.co.u...=845&accfm=rep

What struck me about this is that it has been described as a "small but long running avalanche", but the photos reveal it was pretty big for a small avalanche, especially for this time of year. Apparently, it did entrain a lot of wet snow as it went 1300' down the mountain.

I also watched the helmet-cam video from the guy in the Quandary northside couloir from the same day, and the Bald Mtn east aspect avalanche appeared much bigger, not surprising for an east vs north aspect at this time of year. Still, the Quandary avalanche was serious, and the guy was lucky to come out of it unscathed. The guy says at the end of the video: " OK. Well. That could have been worse." Also, he describes it as a "wet slide", but it looks (and sounds) to me like a relatively dry shallow slab over a hard layer.

Here's the link to the Quandary avalanche observation and video:

https://avalanche.state.co.us/observ...b-942644892c03

[tang]

RIP and vibes to the victim of course. This years spring conditions are more treacherous and tricky than normal. Critical to stay partnered up.
My guess is that north quandary slide was wind slab up high and then transitioned to wetter further down, but (important) all sliding clean and fast on a crust (maybe dust) layer. It looked to be moving pretty fast, faster than typical wet loose.
Again, RIP. Be safe all.

[ridge_skier]

Final report is up.

https://classic.avalanche.state.co.u...=845&accfm=inv

[Name Redacted]

Pretty sure I can see it from my house. IIRC the guy was buried only a few feet deep. Tragic because if he had a partner he could have been dug out relatively easily. Makes you start to think that partners are a pretty valuable thing to have.

[MakersTeleMark]

It takes awhile for a snowpack to fully transition, especially with the schitzo weather that was had around that time.

[goldenboy]

I basically never ski solo, but I could totally see myself skiing that line in those conditions. RIP

[garyfromterrace]

Tragic, and condolences to his friends and family. Good write up by the CAIC on this. I thought their take on doing things solo was excellent. Didn't denounce it in any way, just suggested that your margin for error was smaller and your acceptance of risk must be larger.

Also thought the blurb about soloists wearing beacons to help rescuers was spot on.

[NWFlow]

Agreed. Really like that approach and the language they used.

[mattyTru]

How do you all approach complex (long, big) terrain at this point in the season, when the snowpack along the route may not have consolidated at higher elevations, but warming still needs to be considered at lower ones?

This incident was made even more complex by the fresh snow presence up high, while full on spring/summer conditions were present lower down. Hindsight is 2020 but definitely a very complex day to go out. Probably could have considered that there would be wind slab concerns up high where the snow didn't have time/temps to bond to the rest of the snowpack.

RIP

[fastfred]

^^^ whats the question?

you hike you boot pack or you skin in then you hoof on out or skate
take avy 101 they will let you know how to read snow as it changes with weather terrain and atititude

but I would like to note that this guy was not some off the couch conquering big mtn shit rando
if you read the avy report they timed out his whole day roughly
his ascent time was pretty impressive he was moving at a good clip he was fit
I know this cause I used to play alot back where this happened solo or with dogs and I know what it takes to get back there it ain't no silver colour or quandry in the summertime

its one of those serious suck accidents

[mattyTru]

^To clarify, I was wondering if anyone had thoughts about how to manage particularly complicated half winter, half spring/summer conditions on some of these bigger lines. I ask because I generally avoid skiing stuff like this until the entire line has consolidated into one layer. I've been skiing Baldy and Guyot for the past few weeks (spring conditions throughout) but am curious if anyone would feel comfortable entering this terrain in more winterlike conditions, since this man definitely did.

He did indeed make solid time.

[adrenalated]

^To clarify, I was wondering if anyone had thoughts about how to manage particularly complicated half winter, half spring/summer conditions on some of these bigger lines.

Like any other conditions - by thinking about consequences.

In some ways, larger persistent slabs are easier to manage because they are so unmanageable. If it slides, yer gunna die, so you just avoid avalanche terrain entirely.

These smaller slides are a bit more challenging in that regard because the consequences are much more dependent on the exact terrain you're in. Big open bowl with an uncomplicated runout? Probably not really an issue. Steep chute with a dogleg leading to a creek or cliff? Big problem.

So the lines that are REALLY consequential? I just tend to save them until I'm very confident in stability. And in the meantime I go for lines that are still steep enough that I wouldn't touch them midwinter, but are overall less complex, less consequential, and have better escape routes for dealing with smaller avalanches.

[2Pole]

Vibes to the fallen... RIP