Stevens Pass Avalanche retrospective in NY Times

[chatton18]

It seems like more and more out of bounds avy deaths are due to trauma rather than asphyxiation these days. Does anyone know if there are any statistics showing this trend? Obviously it would be very difficult to make any real conclusions on this based on the small sample size and in this particular avalanche it sounds like it took almost 30 min to get to some of the victims, but they make it sounds like they died from trauma/compression asphyxiation (inability to move lungs).

[summit]

That is quite the article! Well written.

It seems like more and more out of bounds avy deaths are due to trauma rather than asphyxiation these days. Does anyone know if there are any statistics showing this trend? Obviously it would be very difficult to make any real conclusions on this based on the small sample size and in this particular avalanche it sounds like it took almost 30 min to get to some of the victims, but they make it sounds like they died from trauma/compression asphyxiation (inability to move lungs).

1. In this instance, it was a 2500ft + ride through a terrain trap. Long rides and terrain traps both contribute to trauma. Deep burials in terrain traps as associated with compression asphyxiation.
2. In a more general sense, I think skiers are going for the gnar, exposing themselves to terrain traps, whether trees, rocks, cliffs, gullies etc that lead to more more trauma.

[chatton18]

That is quite the article! Well written.



1. In this instance, it was a 2500ft + ride through a terrain trap. Long rides and terrain traps both contribute to trauma. Deep burials in terrain traps as associated with compression asphyxiation.
2. In a more general sense, I think skiers are going for the gnar, exposing themselves to terrain traps, whether trees, rocks, cliffs, gullies etc that lead to more more trauma.

In this incident, I couldn't believe the line they were skiing in those conditions when looking at it on this article. As someone unfamiliar with the terrain, I always assumed this group was sticking to a less exposed line but it seems blatantly clear they were skiing a wide open avi prone line with serious terrain traps on a high risk days. The unique thing about this article was how it made you understand the mountain and routes skiers were choosing on this run. I will certainly consider possible slides from above when looking at old growth trees as a safety zone in the future.

I think the additional trauma is a combination of things.
1. People going into the backcountry TEND to have better gear that is easier to use and practice with it more than a few years ago which I'm guessing has resulted in more burial rescues than in the past. This is obviously a theory and I'm wondering if there is any statistical evidence suggesting this.

2. People are skiing more exposed terrain whether they realize it or not and are getting themselves into trouble because of it. If this is the case, shouldn't we be placing a greater emphasis on route finding these days?

[icelanticskier]

shouldn't we be placing a greater emphasis on route finding these days?

these days? ALL days, ALWAYS, during times of elevated danger in and around avy terrain. proper route finding is A #1. always has been and will be.

rog