TR. When everything goest to shit.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Glad everyone is ok and thanks for the post. I'll be looking into getting a sat phone.

[AKbruin]

Good god. Glad everyone is okay. Thanks for sharing.

[powdork]

that's some excellent arm chair quarterbacking. perhaps you didn't read the part on how richard had to slide down on his stomach on one ski because he could barely walk to get to the safe zone. perhaps you also didn't read the part on how both lee and richard only had one ski. perhaps you also didn't read the part that whistler village is 15k away from where we were.

he's standing up in the picture, and has no broken bones. so what we're left with is, you called for a helo extraction because you lost a ski?


anyway, like i said. i wasn't there. calling a helicopter isn't an option for me so i was surprised to see it done in this situation.

[DoWork]

Holy shit, glad to hear you guys are ok!

Stay safe out there, there's plenty of shit and tons of fans out there.

[klar]

thanks a lot for sharing, glad everyone is ok. as sub said, calling the heli seems like a nobrainer from a euro point of view.

[puma]

glad everyone is alright! i remember my first year in whistler i was pretty much game for anything, then someone in my family took on some unnecessary risk and died accidentally "doing something they loved". yeah its better than them suffering some horrible prolonged diseased death but it's little consolation. it's devastating to everyone deeply involved in that persons life. i just think of my "wife", if i died tomorrow because my skis crossed on the NE face of fissile, it would completely destroy her world. and we don't even have kids, i can't imagine what that would be like. and for what? a little shot of adrenaline? some fading glory in the eyes of my buddies? the chance to show a bunch of strangers on an internet forum how rad i am?

yeah you can die crossing the street or choking on a pretzel but now i personally try to stay out of situations where a single mistake will lead to serious injury or death (ie exposure), and i try to be very conservative in the bc which often means i don't ski the best snow or the best lines. look at how many people on this board from whistler have gotten seriously injured, or lucky this year? i personally still have a great time skiing without scaring myself or constantly pushing my personal limits.. i'm just happy to be outdoors sliding around. i'm not preaching to anyone, just giving my perspective to balance out the bro brah, rip it and stick it side of things.

I was about to write the same. I used to ski lines with exposure below. I now essentially do not touch them.

Steep with a fall you slide to the bottom is fine. Steep\mildly steep where you fall you go over a cliff or bounce off rocks is simply not something I'll touch anymore.

Old guy, I know...

That was an intense read OP. I am glad you are all ok.

[tone capone]

So glad you guys are O.K. Thanks for posting the honest report, I really appreciate it. I often think about the mellower slopes below the steep committing ones being the ones to possibly hurt or kill you. Like you said it's easy to just put it in the back of your mind when you are dealing with much more serious skiing, but sometimes those aprons/benches/sides of gullies and such are the ones that can sucker you in to letting down your guard. Hopefully you keep skiing and that Lee and Richard are 100% O.K. soon.

[Crinkle]

wow, that read was a punch in the stomach. Really,really glad to hear that everyone made it out fairly unscathed. Hope Richard and Lee heal up nice and quick.

What you are going through seems like a perfectly natural reaction, being witness to a trumatic event, such as this. If you walk away from it, you have some great experiences. Otherwise, the mountains will continue to call and one day you'll answer.

[powdork]

thanks a lot for sharing, glad everyone is ok. as sub said, calling the heli seems like a nobrainer from a euro point of view.

seems like you guys are set up for that kind of stuff. what does it cost? seems like here, without heli specific insurance, it's in the $7,000 range. that was for a buddy's medivac from tahoe to reno after a heart attack. i don't know how a mountain rescue would impact that one way or the other.

[toast2266]

Damn - glad everyone's alright.

[Marius]

people do not fall in the mallory

sometimes even the best skiers do make mistakes.

glad you are ok. like i wrote in the other thread: never take more risks for some fu**ing foto/video-stuff!!! it's not worth it.

[postman22]

he's standing up in the picture, and has no broken bones. so what we're left with is, you called for a helo extraction because you lost a ski?


anyway, like i said. i wasn't there. calling a helicopter isn't an option for me so i was surprised to see it done in this situation.

Man, I seriously question if you read anything, or if you just skim shit that has become common with the facebook and twitter age. You don't know until you are at a hospital if you have broken bones. You don't know if you have a punctured lung. Why is he standing. After sliding down on his stomach on one ski, he had to walk about 20 feet to get to the heli. Seriously, take a baseball bat and have someone wack you as hard as they can in the hip (probably multiple times, until you feel like it may be broken). Then take that other baseball bat and have some wack you as hard as they can in your opposite knee (until you feel that might be broken). Then get on one ski, trying skinning in waist deep snow for 1000 vertical ft. Then try sidestepping out for 15k. I guarantee, after that is done, if you were to get out that you might change your opinion.

Remind when I get back into touring, if I ever go to Tahoe or if you ever visit Whistler to never go touring with you, as it appears you seriously lack sensibility towards your friends well being in what could be a life threatening situation.

[IskiEC]

Amidst the panic that set in when you first saw the slide and realized your partners had triggered you:

1.) Determined they were taken with the slide

2.) Located equipment to help determine their location

3.) Located and got to the first partner in 1 minute

4.) Located your second partner seconds later

5.) Evaluated the condition of both partners and got rescue underway within minutes

6.) Collected as much equip as you could find

7.) Located and marked a safe landing zone for rescue

8.) Got everyone out alive



I know this doesn't speak to evaluation of hazard, slope choice, etc. But when the shit hit the fan, YOU stepped up, used your training and knowledge, and got your injured buds out of there. I'd tour with you any day...

[goldenboy]

Only because you asked for thoughts...

Of the half-dozen or so times I've skied fissile, the lower section where you had your slide almost always had me more on edge than the summit routes (summit, saddle, NE) Why? First there's the little bit of exposure. Second, the snow was almost always weird there- usually a wind slab even when the upper areas were blower, sometimes a sun crust. Third, the steeps off the summit regularly slough and clean themselves whereas the lower angled stuff just sits waiting for a trigger. Finally, the slide looks like it started on a convexity, which the bottom has plenty of and the summit really doesn't.

Hope that doesn't come off as too much MM quarterbacking since I hate that crap, but you asked and that's what I remember about fissile, though I could certainly be way off since it's been a few years.

[wcf3]

Thanks for the detailed write up. Based on what you've written, it seems like you guys weren't 'hanging it out there' in any obvious way that I can see. About the only thing I would have done differently is that I'm really conservative in sluff management (any more) and probably wouldn't have tried crossing the running sluff that got you in saddle chute. As such, I probably would have been part of the group that went for the 'big ride'.

Also, given the weather and location, if I had been along and had a sat phone or radio and people with potential head or internal injuries in the group, I definitely would have called a helicopter as well. Both of these types of injuries are very difficult to assess in the field and can be potentially life threatening if not treated properly.

Glad everybody got out Ok.

[RampagingMullet]

Amidst the panic that set in when you first saw the slide and realized your partners had triggered you:

1.) Determined they were taken with the slide

2.) Located equipment to help determine their location

3.) Located and got to the first partner in 1 minute

4.) Located your second partner seconds later

5.) Evaluated the condition of both partners and got rescue underway within minutes

6.) Collected as much equip as you could find

7.) Located and marked a safe landing zone for rescue

8.) Got everyone out alive



I know this doesn't speak to evaluation of hazard, slope choice, etc. But when the shit hit the fan, YOU stepped up, used your training and knowledge, and got your injured buds out of there. I'd tour with you any day...

Thanks Phil,
You are the man!

Well it's three full days after the slide, and I am having a hard enough time getting from the bed to the couch when I am full of pain killers, so I am all for the heli. Also, if it costs me 7 grand like someone previous had said, I'll be awefully surprised. I believe A stars are about about 2 grand / hour and we used around 15-20 minutes of flying time (max). I think that is well worth my money, and I am sure glad it was an option since Lee had his radio.

[pfluffenmeister]

intense read. happy to hear that everone made out alive.

heal quickly.

[Mordax]

But when the shit hit the fan, YOU stepped up, used your training and knowledge, and got your injured buds out of there. I'd tour with you any day...

this. well done.

[postman22]

Only because you asked for thoughts...

Of the half-dozen or so times I've skied fissile, the lower section where you had your slide almost always had me more on edge than the summit routes (summit, saddle, NE) Why? First there's the little bit of exposure. Second, the snow was almost always weird there- usually a wind slab even when the upper areas were blower, sometimes a sun crust. Third, the steeps off the summit regularly slough and clean themselves whereas the lower angled stuff just sits waiting for a trigger. Finally, the slide looks like it started on a convexity, which the bottom has plenty of and the summit really doesn't.

Hope that doesn't come off as too much MM quarterbacking since I hate that crap, but you asked and that's what I remember about fissile, though I could certainly be way off since it's been a few years.

I agree. I've skied Fissile prob about 6 times as well. It's either completely wind hammered, or blower pow. As such we probably should have realized that different slopes on that mountain can have different wind patterns on them

[Shadam]

And for those that haven't been to the area, singing pass trail is a brutal ski out. (some years more than others) The heli was the only option from where you were as you still had 1000ft skin and 15km skate! Injured and on 1 ski = impossible. I still have nightmares about that trail on a 173 split board last year!

[Ramsey]

Ho...Lee....F*ck!

Way to step up postman.... and pleased to hear everyone is OK.

Thanks for the very honest report. However, you are starting to sound like the unluckiest man in Whistler!!

[snacktray]

Wow. Thanks for taking the time to post and share. An epic TR that we can all take some knowledge away from. Glad everyone came out alive and well

[LeeLau]

keep in mind you asked for us to share our thoughts. as i read and saw this picture i thought, "you called a helicopter? really?"



course i wasn't there and i don't have that option so it would never occur to me, but it seems to me if two people are capable of making it out ok, and the other isn't in real bad shape, it's time to suck it up and pay for your sins the old fashioned way. that way maybe you'll learn a bit more than to get a satellite phone.
i know my armchair quarterbacking is harsh, but those were my thoughts.

my other thought was that the 50' cliff was hardly a closeout at the bottom of the line. i guess what i am saying is, even if i did limit my bc lines to stuff with clean runouts, i would have still considered that line to be ok from that standpoint.

I thought it would probably be best to answer this question since I had the VHF. Also I think this is a very good question as not always is SAR required and often self-rescue is possible.

I have WFA but no other medical training. I don't know if you have medical or first aid training. I'm going to do my best to explain in my words

I was partially buried and self-rescued. I was coughing blood and was able to stand with some degree of pain. I self-assessed myself as having substantial contusions, bruising and generalized pain with localized pain in all extremeties and joints. No jaw damage, no missing teeth, no head injury, neck or spinal pain

My first priority was self-rescue which I determined I could handle myself. My second priority was to determine that Richard wasn't buried. I had a verbal response from him in about 20 - 30 seconds. He was not buried but yelled that we was hurt and unable to move.

As I was extracting myself Phil was skiing to me with beacon out ready to rescue in less than one minute. I told him I was able to move (ie ambulatory) but that I thought we were still exposed. I asked him if he could help Rich as Rich was above me, was possibly hurt to the extent of not being able to move and was

Phil had to put on his skins to get to Rich. I dug sunglasses and a hat out of my pack as I felt myself getting cold and self-diagnosed myself as the early onset of shock.

I then dug out the VHF radio which had as one of its settings the Whistler Patrol dispatch line. A quick word on that. I knew I was in a cellphone dead zone below the Russett Lk hut. I have previously asked Whistler patrol for permission to call in for SAR purposes if I'm doing a big traverse or trip and they've said its fine but to limit its use. I've never used it before for SAR purposes.

I know some radio talk is recorded so the recording may or may not be there. I;m not curious enough to find out so this is to best of recollection and related to the heli dispatch:

I called in to Whistler dispatch something along the lines of "Whistler dispatch, requesting assistance, skier triggered avalanche on Fissile Peak in Whistler backcountry - do you copy?"

I than got a response from Dispatch something like "Dispatch - please identify yourself"


I identified myself. Said that it was a three skier party, two involved. Two injured. One ambulatory. One possibly not ambulatory.

They asked me if we were clear of danger. I responded Negative but attempting to clear of danger.

They asked me to further describe injuries; give location; and confirm number and status of burials. I described my own injuries. Advised that we were trying to confirm extent of Rich's injuries. Gave location (no GPS - so described as bowl below Russet Lk hut NW of Fissile Peak and gave elevation. Told them immediately N of toe of Banana Chute). Confirmed 2 partial burials, both clear of burials but both still possibly exposed.

All this time I was trying to walk downslope. Snow was still relatively soft and I collapsed to knees a few times as my knees would give out; or I would cough more blood or I would sink to waist. I also felt myself getting cold & estimated I had perhaps half an hour before I went into shock. I put on another jacket. At the same time, I called up to Phil and Rich to check on status of injuries. Rich was now clear (not sure if he self-cleared himself or Phil helped or a combination). Rich was moving very very slowly and was still very close to cliffs.

Patrol than asked for description of avalanche and I think at this time advised heli might be dispatched. They asked how many people could get out. I described the slide and involvement. Stressed that there was no burial and no life-threatening injury. Advised that at least one person had very limited movement ability (Rich) and that I could move but very slowly and with discomfort (myself).

Patrol told me to concentrate on moving away from hangfire but to continue to update medical conditions. They went off-line comm'ing with me for a bit and I could hear them moving whistler ski boundary patrol calls to another channel. I'm guessing at this time there as internal discussion as to dispatching the heli

I was most of the way downslope to a safe zone. To my relief upslope i could see that Phil had retrieved poles for Rich and Rich was oh so slowly and incredibly painfully moving downslope also. On further reflection after seeing his injuries in hospital i am frankly surprised he could move at all - adrenaline is wonderful. I got a call from patrol advising a heli was dispatched with a P number and telling me how to prep the LZ.

Phil caught me as he skied down and I asked him to help me prep the LZ. Rich was also there. At this time both Rich and I were staggering. I didn't want to lie down as I didn't feel confident about getting up and I would guess Rich was in same boat. At this time radio chatter subsided and patrol would intermittently call to update. I had no further update other than to advise we were in position. Patrol than made final call to advise that all of us would be extricated. I was later told that the heli available just happened to be big enough.

Heli then landed, we loaded and were extracted

I realize it sounds bizarre that I recall all of this but I've got a personality trait that allows me to recall things even during high-stress situations.

[LeeLau]

ouch... i usually don't like lines with too much exposure below because of the little bit of risk that still remains. Look for one of paxtis TR from a few weeks/days ago he made it out of the slide, but the exposure below scared the shit out of me.....
considering the lines: it may sound strange, but i think the really steep stuff is far less dangerous than slopes with a lot of accumulation.

I think that way and still do think that way. Steep lines self-manage snow. I thought it was a odd way of thinking till I spoke to other people about it and i'm not the only one to think so.

This incident is proof of it. One huge lesson I've learned is to not let your guard down/ don't be complacent

[LeeLau]

seems like you guys are set up for that kind of stuff. what does it cost? seems like here, without heli specific insurance, it's in the $7,000 range. that was for a buddy's medivac from tahoe to reno after a heart attack. i don't know how a mountain rescue would impact that one way or the other.

There is a setup for it. I've never used it before but the British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program funds helicopter rescues. The heli was dispatched with a P number. I explicitly told patrol it was not life-threatening because I know I'm not the one to best decide on necessity of rescue or on urgency of rescue.

My understanding is there is a small time lag (5 - 10 minutes) in getting helis with a P number. So in Canada anyway, if the incident can afford a small time lag and be dispatched under the PEP with a P number than the rescue is part of the taxpayers umbrella.

In retrospect, having regard to Rich's and my condition, we were probably already in shock. I would have probably made it out alive. Rich probably would not have been able to self-rescue as his injuries were worse. Phil would have been fine.