Brother Caught in Avalanche Today in St. Anton

**H-man** · 01-28-2007, 07:11 AM

My brother is fine. He went for a 300 meter plus ride in a narrow chute and walked away with a hairline fracture in his ankle. It was a classic slide by where other people dropped a cornice on top of him and he was gone like that.

I could not find him and am very shaken up. I'm glad everything ended up ok. I went back to the slide with my guide and the police to do an investigation. I will provide full details at some point with many pictures.

Right now, I'm so glad my brother is alive. It was very difficult not to give up the search and just start crying.

Thanks for your thoughts and vibes mags.

It's like a new birthday.

**ulty_guy** · 01-28-2007, 07:15 AM

wow, holy shit, very glad to hear he's ok.

**hemas** · 01-28-2007, 07:25 AM

Shite man...

Was it another party that dropped the cornice or yours?

**danadog** · 01-28-2007, 07:53 AM

Hman
Glad to hear he made it out with just a broken bone.
Sounds like a good time to sit back with his foot above his heart and share a good beer together.

**trainnvain** · 01-28-2007, 07:56 AM

Yikes! Glad to hear he got out of that. Sorry to hear he'll be sitting out for a while.

**Core Shot** · 01-28-2007, 09:28 AM

Yowza.

that's the new backcountry dillemma - how to anticipate the actions of the fucktarded people above you. I miss the old days of less tracks and fewer jongs.

glad he survived. I know how quickly a happy day skiing can turn to adrenaline pounding holy fuck catastrophe. Pour a drink and thank your and your brothers good fortune. This reality is that life is fragile and can change in an instant.

**ECbum** · 01-28-2007, 09:28 AM

Hannes, so glad to hear he is OK. Hope the rest of trip allows for some reflection with the family and some great turns to shake the anxiety.

Sending positive vibes...

**gamma** · 01-28-2007, 09:39 AM

dude.. that sucks, very horrible to hear.. good tho he survived and walked away with only a hairline fracture.. coulda been a lot worse even if no burial..

**SheSkisTrees** · 01-28-2007, 09:46 AM

I'll bet it's like a new birthday. So glad to hear that he is OK. Let him know vibes are being sent for a quick healing.

**shmerham** · 01-28-2007, 11:48 AM

Wow. Scary as hell. I can't imagine what it must've been like to be in your position. The feeling of helplessness is the worst. Must've been terrifying for him as well. I hope he heals up quickly and that it only strengthens your bond and that you enjoy the rest of your trip.

**rideit** · 01-28-2007, 11:55 AM

Glad to hear all is O.K. He's gotta be a little shaken up.

I would be!

**skibee** · 01-28-2007, 11:57 AM

Vibes.

Stories like this one are the backbone of why so many guys form Europe like to come to Canada to guide in the heliski industry, you know who is dropping in above you and if he/she screws up you get to give them a big nugie back at the boot room later.

I hope you both drop many more great couloirs next year.

**Deep Days** · 01-28-2007, 12:53 PM

Jesus. Sorry to hear. Many vibes!

**comish** · 01-28-2007, 01:50 PM

Woof. Sooo glad to hear he is ok!

Please definitely post more when you are able or feel like it. Seriously glad it ended ok. Can't even imagine it.

**hutash** · 01-28-2007, 01:52 PM

Good to hear everything came out good in the end. Everybody coming home at the end of the day is what is most important. Looking forward to the report.
+++++++++++++++++vibes++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++
to you, your brother and to all that pulled him out.

Cheers

**brannen** · 01-28-2007, 02:06 PM

shitty. we saw some gapers doing some stupid shit earlier as well. where did this happen?

**tdwash** · 01-28-2007, 10:20 PM

sorry to hear about your brother! Where exactly did this happen? Was the group guided?

**skiguide** · 01-28-2007, 10:26 PM

holy fing shit Hannes! So glad to hear your bro is alright... I'm sure you're both shaken up... but you've got great karma on your side.

**Free Range Lobster** · 01-28-2007, 10:42 PM

Jesus H, glad to hear your brother is ok!

**japollner** · 01-28-2007, 10:49 PM

Hey man,

Heard about the slide from Joe Lahout today. He said Herb Lahout (his brother) was supposed to ski with you guys but didnt for some reason and then told me your brother had broken his collarbone. Positive vibes his way, and hoping for a good tail end of your season. Heard you guys ad the umbrellas out over there for about a week earlier this month.

Edit: Re-read the post and realized it was a different slide perhaps. Have you guys been going through an avy cycle? My bosses brother lives over there and I heard 2nd hand that one of his friends had been caught in a slide today or the day before in St. Anton.

**snowsprite** · 01-29-2007, 09:37 AM

Wow...sorry that your brother is injured but thank God he came out alive!

+++vibes+++

Sprite

**The Dad** · 01-29-2007, 12:56 PM

Fuuuuuuuck. But glad he's okay.

**jibco** · 01-29-2007, 01:28 PM

Glad you guys are OK. I hope he heals quick. If you decide to share the story, I'm sure some of us can learn form it.

**InspectorGadget** · 01-29-2007, 01:56 PM

Happy birthday, in deed. Glad it was a happy endi, er, beginning!

**H-man** · 01-29-2007, 07:55 PM

Just got home back to the States. I am very tired. I keep seeing my brother getting slammed by this wall of snow in my head, and am still a little shaken up.

This is a wild story as it has sorted itself out and I will tell it in detail later. The avi was in Mattun and he ended up with a hairline fracture to his fibia as well as a lot of bumps & bruises.

For now here are some pics:

Rescue:

Diagram made to give to the police who are trying to catch the guy who did the slide by. The actual distance as measured by GPS ended up being 260 meters:

Crown with skiers track that dropped the cornice:

Andy just below the crown:

Top of path:

Upper middle of path:

The rock chute that the slide and my brother went through: