Thread: Avy death at Telluride.

It happened today in an uncontrolled sidecountry area. There might be a second victim as well. Anyone have any info. details yet?

CAIC home page has a link to a telluride newspaper story which just got updated with details. solo in an often federally closed area. beacon avalung airbag, deployed & shredded

vibes to deceased and fam/friends. bummer.

rog

What is the point of a lightweight airbag if it gets destroyed?

http://www.watchnewspapers.com/view/...ance=top_story

i believe it was destroyed by trees. sad ending was a result of trauma.

Originally Posted by covert

i believe it was destroyed by trees. sad ending was a result of trauma.

I'd also expect it was destroyed by trees, but he was buried 4 feet deep.

Airbags are great in wide open terrain, it looks like trees are a serious problem. I can't imagine the pain his family and friends are in.

Very sad. I withheld these questions from the main thread in the ski forum. If people think this is still too soon, I will remove.

Do I understand correctly that the rescuers didn't see the victim get caught but saw a single track going into a slide and assumed there was someone caught?

How big is this slide path? Wondering - if the trees were bad enough to shred the bag, would it have mattered if he came out on top or not? Guessing not.

Is touring with avybag and no partners becoming common? I see the reasoning, if the bag doesn't save you the odds that your partner(s) can are probably slim. Guess it is kinda like SCUBA diving solo (I don't but friends who are more comfortable with the water do). If nothing else I would want someone else to discuss lines, thoughts, hazards, with etc.

If you are in contention and it goes in any meaningful way, all else would just be luck.

Originally Posted by neufox47

Is touring with avybag and no partners becoming common?

Touring solo is not that uncommon with or without an airbag. Particularly in the side-country.

I don't think using an airbag as a replacement for a partner is common, justifiable or even sane. I don't think that's what was going on in this case. Many people feel comfortable accepting an elevated level of risk in terrain they are intimately familiar with.

I posted in the main thread,but was considerate and asked about a secondary thread.This.When I first started hearing about ABS,I was like "OHH BOY,people are gonna get safetyitis".Nate had ABS,Avalung,Probe,Beacon and Shovel.Does this make it safe to ski in High avalanche areas,because you feel more secure with all the safety devices?NO!It sounds like terrain was the primary,and snow the secondary.There have been several incidents lately with people skiing/boarding in very questionable areas that had the ABS.Are we fallinf into the trap of an orange "safety" bag?

Originally Posted by teleyakco

There have been several incidents lately with people skiing/boarding in very questionable areas that had the ABS.Are we fallinf into the trap of an orange "safety" bag?

as predicted. follow the bouncing ball.............................................

folks probably wouldn't be venturing to places without the bag where they are now that they have one.

many folks may be saved by the bag, but enough may die with one to make annual avi related deaths remain the same or even increase.

hopefully this won't be the case.

rog

Originally Posted by icelanticskier

as predicted. follow the bouncing ball.............................................

folks probably wouldn't be venturing to places without the bag where they are now that they have one.

many folks may be saved by the bag, but enough may die with one to make annual avi related deaths remain the same or even increase.

hopefully this won't be the case.

rog

and the same thing didn't happen with beacons?

Originally Posted by funkendrenchman

and the same thing didn't happen with beacons?

No evidence to back up this, just an observation.

Beacons allow you to locate a buried victim they don't prevent the burial.

I think "maybe" when beacons were first available that a higher acceptance of risk was possible.

As people kept dying with beacons on their body the realization that they were a locator device to find a buried and quite possibly dead body sank in.

Just a thought.

Originally Posted by Bunion

No evidence to back up this, just an observation.

Beacons allow you to locate a buried victim they don't prevent the burial.

I think "maybe" when beacons were first available that a higher acceptance of risk was possible.

As people kept dying with beacons on their body the realization that they were a locator device to find a buried and quite possibly dead body sank in.

Just a thought.

agree 100%. personally i've always considered my beacon as purely a recovery device. rescue device would be a bonus.

rog

Just back from Southern San Juans last night late. Big Winds ripping high on ridge tops. Lots of transport from windward to lee. 24" dumped in two days where I was.

RIP to the deceased. Vibes for his family and friends. ++++++++++++++
Be safe

Originally Posted by icelanticskier

agree 100%. personally i've always considered my beacon as purely a recovery device. rescue device would be a bonus.

rog

When grown ups are talking you need to SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP, MORON!

GERONIMO!!!

rog

Does anyone know what kind of ABS bag Nate was using? Are all bags made of the same material and therefore equally durable?

Thanks for any and all beta!

RIP Nate

Originally Posted by Tarbs

Does anyone know what kind of ABS bag Nate was using? Are all bags made of the same material and therefore equally durable?

Thanks for any and all beta!

RIP Nate

He was wearing and using an ABS pack (not to be confused with the BCA, Snowpulse, or any other "avalanche airbag" pack). He was also wearing an Avalung in addition to his airbag pack. Both items, including his snowboard were ripped from him in the slide. The cause of death was trauma, as stated in the official accident report. He was below tree line and in a thick forest where the slide happened.
Airbag packs are no good in tight trees. Even though they are made of kevlar, they will pop.