Dutch Draw Avalanche; The real story

**Red Baron** · 01-19-2005, 05:39 PM

This is mostly a heads-up for Utahns, but I'll try to get an online copy for the rest of the board tomorrow. I'm working on a story for our 9pm newscast right now, that will shed plenty of light on what really happened up in the Canyons BC last Friday.

I just finished talking to the victims father, and brother, and more importantly, one of the other people he was snowboarding with that day; and have learned a few new things (I can't share them here until after the story airs, I'm sure you understand that) that change the whole scenario. It'll be on in the first 10 minutes of the newscast, around 9:04pm as of right now.

(edit: but I'm still taking a jab at them for not having beacons, probes and shovels..)

**MOHSHSIHd** · 01-19-2005, 05:41 PM

any way we can see the newscast online?

**stump832** · 01-19-2005, 05:45 PM

Thanks for the heads up RB. I'll definitely tune in for this.

With all the (mis)information that has been written about this event, and with it making national news (theres a story on the front page of the New York Times today), it'll be interesting to hear what actually happened, and how that might change public perception of the issues at hand.

By the way, I think the effort you're putting into this story and the need for avalanche safety awareness is fantastic, and just wanted to take a few seconds to say Thank You, and that your work is appreciated.

**splat** · 01-19-2005, 05:53 PM

You guys stream that broadcast out for the rest of us, RB????

**Red Baron** · 01-19-2005, 06:03 PM

splat, love to...but the mice who run our servers are getting tired, and the duct tape that holds our internet connection online is wearing pretty thin...

**backpack** · 01-19-2005, 06:11 PM

someone could TIVO it and post, eh?

I might watch the news tonight just to see your story, RB...

**Twoplanker** · 01-19-2005, 06:17 PM

I'll film it with my digicam, compress it and post the result here. Check back later- maybe tomorrow.

**powstash** · 01-19-2005, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by backpack

someone could TIVO it and post, eh?

I might watch the news tonight just to see your story, RB...

I'll call my sis-in-law and have he TIVO it. I'll do my best.

Red Baron - promotion?

**Red Baron** · 01-19-2005, 06:34 PM

pstash...nope, just doing my job...

**bcrider** · 01-19-2005, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by Twoplanker

I'll film it with my digicam, compress it and post the result here. Check back later- maybe tomorrow.

good thinkin'!

I'd like to see it too.

**wilcox510** · 01-19-2005, 06:55 PM

what channel?

**splat** · 01-19-2005, 06:56 PM

FOX, whatever channel that is.

**backpack** · 01-19-2005, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by splat

FOX, whatever channel that is.

13

34567890

**freshie247** · 01-19-2005, 07:14 PM

Please keep us informed.

**Plakespear** · 01-19-2005, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by backpack

34567890

Wow- what cable/sat company gives you thay many channels???

**backpack** · 01-19-2005, 10:17 PM

So basically, they had beacons/shovels/etc in the car but didn't bring them up because they didn't think they'd be going OB that day... that's the main thing that stuck with me from the interview.

**Twoplanker** · 01-19-2005, 10:23 PM

Sorry, bandwidth is toast.

**Red Baron** · 01-19-2005, 10:26 PM

Wow, guess that means I don't have to post a transcript!

Thanks 2planker, very cool!

**Twoplanker** · 01-19-2005, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Wow, guess that means I don't have to post a transcript!

Thanks 2planker, very cool!

Sure. Sorry about the quality.

It was nice to see someone cover this story with some intelligence. Things are rarely black and white, wrong or right. Your story reflected that.

**jayfrizzo** · 01-19-2005, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by Twoplanker

Here's the video of the newscast (~3.5 minutes, 5 megs). Nice work Steve:

Fox 13 - Avalanche Story

That was fast, dude.

Yah, good job, Steve.

**str8line** · 01-19-2005, 10:33 PM

Great story Baron.

It was interesting about how they thought they were taking the safe route but still got caught.

Also, pointing out the tranceiver mistake was a good move.

I think that the most important aspect was that they were even in an uncontrolled area on that high hazard day to begin with. The first step is to know when to say when. The Avy hotline is the first step to safety.

**freshies** · 01-19-2005, 10:35 PM

nice report covering all the deets. bottom line though: do not go BC without your gear (beacon, probe & shovel)!! that looked like it was a massive slide, so he may have been a goner regardless....but had his group been beeping and acted quickly...who knows.....damn, that is a shame...RIP my man.

**danadog** · 01-19-2005, 10:36 PM

Thanks for the link Twoplanker.
Red Baron it is nice to but a face with a name.
Thanks for all of your info that you share with us.
I just got home from a 3 hour avy class field day this weekend.
Thanks again guys