Tof Henry :-(

[Island Bay]

Such a "tragic and unexpected accident." He was always on the safe side........

No, not really.

He kept pushing it and he paid the price.

I really felt uncomfortable when I saw him skiing with his son in eberg last year having kids myself. Poor kid.

So when is it Tschirmers time? Any bets?

That's a harsh and disrespectful comment to make so soon. How about letting the dust settle first?

[subtle plague]

No it is not. The Fake surprise and sudden sadness is disrespectful to him and his decisions.

Edit: and if the "surprise" is honest, then I'd be even worse because then people would have absolutely no clue what he did.

The people rationalizing and idolizing his decisions annoy me. Not the decisions themselves. As I've stated earlier. Everyone does reckless things in the mountains sometimes and no one is pointing Fingers.

It's just the " why him? Such a loss" on social media I'm not ok with because it's fucking dishonest.

[Island Bay]

I disagree.

You may have many reasons, but I find your comments very poor taste.

(Edit: I should stress that I can see many of the points you often make re Schirmer and Tof, but find that now's not the time for them.)

[subtle plague]

I disagree.

You may have many reasons, but I find your comments very poor taste.

(Edit: I should stress that I can see many of the points you often make re Schirmer and Tof, but find that now's not the time for them.)

We agree to disagree.


Edit: why is this time different and when is the time? And I'm not trying to be intentionally dense here. Because the outcome is different? All the other times my analysis was ok? And, I have to repeat it, im not saying anything about him just about the reaction.

[Island Bay]

Exactement, mon vieux!

[jacob_dbu]

I appreciate your take subtle and frankly I agree. Every day we step into avalanche terrain we put ourselves at risk. In my earlier days I used to believe enough education and attention to detail could mitigate the risk. It can't. That's just the reality of backcountry skiing.

When you push the limit you are putting yourself in a more precarious situation each push, and with the number of days you're out the chance of a tragic event increase.

It is tragic he died. It's not particularly surprising when you watched what he skied and how often he was in that terrain. Condolences to his family, my heart is with them. He was clearly an exceptional skier, but he sets a bad role model for the community. Sorry it's the truth. I used to (and still think) "wow that's sick what he's skiing". But now I also think "I never want to do that" and "that is exceptionally risky behavior".

Cody is awesome in that regard as was noted above. He sets what a much more realistic model for recreating and he shows that on film. It's very noble he's been able to make a profession doing that because that's hard to do.

[Island Bay]

Without risk takers we’d be nowhere. Read Chuck Yeager’s memoir.

[powdork]

What exactly do you all consider an acceptable level of risk for yourselves? 1 in a 100? 1 in a 1,000? 1 in 10,000? And what do you consider acceptable for others?

I would point out for all of us that spend a considerable amount of time in avalanche terrain there have been times for all of us (probably Cody moreso than the rest of us) that the only reason it didn't slide on us on certain days is that we were just plain lucky. I would also point out that while Cody has shown sound decision making during his attempts working on the 50, he also made the decision to try the 50 in the first place.

[skier666]

His photos lately from South America were gorgeous.

His bad actions aside, he was one of the best big mountain skiers and provided amazing content so we can share the ride with him.

RIP

[Dantheman]

I would also point out that while Cody has shown sound decision making during his attempts working on the 50, he also made the decision to try the 50 in the first place.

And they very nearly died on St. Elias.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Others, like Subtle, are much closer to the scene than I and have the personal connection. That said, Chamonix as a community really has a different mindset. It litterly is the history of the town. Whether Tof was doing it for the clicks, ego or something else is not for me to say.

If he was honest with himself, his friends and his family about the inherent danger and that his life was what he was willing to pay, that is all I can ask. I think about this a lot. Many of us tend towards risky activities which entail a high price. There is no line you cross at which point in becomes too much. It is a continuum and a choice.

The Western World tends to forward this idea of a long happy life. I don't think everyone is cut out for it. To me, a fulfilling life is the objective. This is different things to different people. I try and respect this.

[geo039]

Others, like Subtle, are much closer to the scene than I and have the personal connection. That said, Chamonix as a community really has a different mindset. It litterly is the history of the town. Whether Tof was doing it for the clicks, ego or something else is not for me to say.

If he was honest with himself, his friends and his family about the inherent danger and that his life was what he was willing to pay, that is all I can ask. I think about this a lot. Many of us tend towards risky activities which entail a high price. There is no line you cross at which point in becomes too much. It is a continuum and a choice.

The Western World tends to forward this idea of a long happy life. I don't think everyone is cut out for it. To me, a fulfilling life is the objective. This is different things to different people. I try and respect this.

This…RIP. As my statically days get shorter that last section becomes more clear.

[jacob_dbu]

What exactly do you all consider an acceptable level of risk for yourselves? 1 in a 100? 1 in a 1,000? 1 in 10,000? And what do you consider acceptable for others?

I would point out for all of us that spend a considerable amount of time in avalanche terrain there have been times for all of us (probably Cody moreso than the rest of us) that the only reason it didn't slide on us on certain days is that we were just plain lucky. I would also point out that while Cody has shown sound decision making during his attempts working on the 50, he also made the decision to try the 50 in the first place.

I have no idea. I don’t suppose one can even know, hell I have no idea when I go out what the risk level is. I can make an educated guess but that’s the thing about backcountry skiing is you’re never quite sure where the edge is.

I make no judgements against his decision making. My only comment is that it’s tragic and that his perceived risk level is far above mine. That’s about as far as I can go. No one knows the absolutes.

My only comment on optics is that I really appreciate Cody’s videos which have a sentiment around safety and don’t glorify doing risky things because I think it’s good for the community. Not saying he doesn’t take risks, but I think he certainly doesn’t glorify risks in the way that Schirmer for example has previously done a lot of (which sure is entertaining!). But I think it’s awesome Cody has been able to do that and still be relevant and make money off it.

RIP Tof, he skied some insane shit.

[2FUNKY]

RIP Tof. One of the best big mountain skiers out there. His actions always made me gasp watching him. Tease the dragon to much it’s going to bite eventually. What a bummer.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Island Bay]

I have no idea. I don’t suppose one can even know, hell I have no idea when I go out what the risk level is. I can make an educated guess but that’s the thing about backcountry skiing is you’re never quite sure where the edge is.

I make no judgements against his decision making. My only comment is that it’s tragic and that his perceived risk level is far above mine. That’s about as far as I can go. No one knows the absolutes.

My only comment on optics is that I really appreciate Cody’s videos which have a sentiment around safety and don’t glorify doing risky things because I think it’s good for the community. Not saying he doesn’t take risks, but I think he certainly doesn’t glorify risks in the way that Schirmer for example has previously done a lot of (which sure is entertaining!). But I think it’s awesome Cody has been able to do that and still be relevant and make money off it.

RIP Tof, he skied some insane shit.

"He was clearly an exceptional skier, but he sets a bad role model for the community. Sorry it's the truth."

You very clearly and explicitly made judgments.

[toast2266]

Others, like Subtle, are much closer to the scene than I and have the personal connection. That said, Chamonix as a community really has a different mindset. It litterly is the history of the town. Whether Tof was doing it for the clicks, ego or something else is not for me to say.

If he was honest with himself, his friends and his family about the inherent danger and that his life was what he was willing to pay, that is all I can ask. I think about this a lot. Many of us tend towards risky activities which entail a high price. There is no line you cross at which point in becomes too much. It is a continuum and a choice.

The Western World tends to forward this idea of a long happy life. I don't think everyone is cut out for it. To me, a fulfilling life is the objective. This is different things to different people. I try and respect this.

Nicely articulated.

[telefreewasatch]

"He was clearly an exceptional skier, but he sets a bad role model for the community. Sorry it's the truth."
You very clearly and explicitly made judgments.

Dude, stand down already, eh?
He oughta have, with a family and all.
You clearly must ski Mammoth.

[3PinGrin]

If he was honest with himself, his friends and his family about the inherent danger and that his life was what he was willing to pay, that is all I can ask.

This ^

Armchair quarterbacks tend to view the impacts to family from their own perspective without really knowing what conversations or understandings were in place between the family and friends involved.

RIP

[KBP]

Dude, stand down already, eh?
He oughta have, with a family and all.
You clearly must ski Mammoth.

Agreed. Interesting compared with comments after passing of Coombs, McConkey, etc. RIP


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[telefreewasatch]

Armchair quarterbacks tend to view the impacts to family from their own perspective without really knowing what conversations or understandings were in place between the family and friends involved.

Do you think his fatherless children understand?
When one has kids one ought to dial it back.
Without conversations and understanding.
When my wife got pregnant I quit skiing ice climbs without a rope.
No regrets; my priorities shifted.

[3PinGrin]

Do you think his fatherless children understand?
When one has kids one ought to dial it back.
Without conversations and understanding.
When my wife got pregnant I quit skiing ice climbs without a rope.
No regrets; my priorities shifted.

It depends on the age of the child and whether those conversations carry through with the spouse and other remaining family members I think. Everyone has their own interpretation of how to live their life on their terms. Good for you for living life your way, but it’s not a cookie cutter template that everyone needs to abide by.

My kids know that I feel lucky just to be a zygote that made it and we’ve had conversations about risk in the mountains since they were young. Life is finite, there’s no changing that.

[romeo tango]

.... And what do you consider acceptable for others? ....

i'm not sure we can establish that ....

rest in peace Tof Henry

.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

The idea that everyone is entitled to their own level of risk tolerance is a lazy equivocation. I don't dislike Tof for how he chose to live. Nor am I inclined to judge him as a good/bad person/role model. But the guy's risk tolerance was off the scale and no one who understands what he was doing (and is honest with themselves) is surprised he is dead. In my opinion that is not good style. Should we ignore this and sing his praises because he died? No. It is why he died.

Did I watch and enjoy his vids? Yes. Does that make me a hypocrite? For sure. I'm sad he's gone. I was rooting for him to make it.

RIP

[Buster Highmen]

These risks to our lives are diseases.
I think it's ok to lament or criticize their sources, their causes, be it risking life for clicks or for quiet, private satisfactions.

I stated a preference and grieve the consequences, but I can't really blame the patients in any of the obvious cases.

[3PinGrin]

The idea that everyone is entitled to their own level of risk tolerance is a lazy equivocation. I don't dislike Tof for how he chose to live. Nor am I inclined to judge him as a good/bad person/role model. But the guy's risk tolerance was off the scale and no one who understands what he was doing (and is honest with themselves) is surprised he is dead. In my opinion that is not good style. Should we ignore this and sing his praises because he died? No. It is why he died.

Did I watch and enjoy his vids? Yes. Does that make me a hypocrite? For sure. I'm sad he's gone. I was rooting for him to make it.

RIP

Agree on the scale of risk and how others (me for sure) couldn’t possibly understand it. But I guess that type of unfathomable desire (disease as noted by Buster) also changes the ability for one to change behavior in a way that moves the needle back toward what most consider to be range of normal behavior. It’s an addiction, straight up.