id imagine Tyson is feeling pretty fucked up right now...i cant imagine. I dont know if he's ever been in this type situation personally, but either way its gotta suck. He's likely questioning everything over and over....glad they didnt both die, but still very sad for my friend that did.
We all know the risks of backcountry skiing. Doug knew the risks. Guided or not, shit can happen and happen in a bad way out there...yesterday it did. The seemingly were following proper ski protocols, skiing slope one at a time to islands of safety, etc. I'd imagine a pit was dug. Doug was wearing and deployed an airbag. Who knows if they shouldve been on the slope they were on, none of us were there, but in most other regards they were following proper travel protocols.
Fucking shitty accidents happen all the time. As corny/cliche as it is/sounds Doug did pass doing what he absolutely loved.
cant say it enough... RIP Doug.
very sad. RIP Doug. Sorry for the loss Skidog.
does anyone know the slope angle near the starting zone? didn't see it in reports. just curious. no armchairing.
well over 30 I believe, loaded south slope at the end of a day where temps spiked after noon. Slide occured at 2:45pm if I read correctly...
feel for the guide, we all make mistakes. Now his health, livelihood and reputation are all at serious risk. Hoping he can get past this ok. Sorry for those that knew the victim.
RIP Doug. Vibes to his family and friends.
Looking at the slope angle shading on cal topo, it appears most of that zone is between 35 and 45 degrees (nothing more specific) with a small section that is 32-34.
Btw, I find the slope angle shading and ease of overlaying layers of data with varying opacities on caltopo.com a very good resource when planning tours.
The media report indicates they were skiing as a private group, not a guided situation. Lets not jump to conclusions bout someones professioal future. RIP
When even 'experts' make mistakes, it makes me think how stupid we all are trying not to die every day.
Things went from manageable to unmanageable in less then 72 hours with a relatively small amount of snow
and this is catching a lot of experience people by surprise. I nearly fell for it Wednesday morning in Mineral, but I luckily had a
partner who slapped me around. Mark Staples went for a small ride there a few hours later in place that could have had bad consequences
after we meet him on the way out and told him it was a bad idea to go into Mineral. On the UAC video from yesterday he neglected to point the camera downhill and
show where he would have gone if the pocket had ran. My partner that day had been in a slide in TC a few years back and has readjusted his outlook on skills vs.
reality. I've done the same since Wednesday morning.
I was out Sunday with SFB and felt the conditions were manageable. Then SFB nearly went for a ride 48hrs later.
These seem to be conditions we typically see early season, dunno if thats playing into it? A long stretch of lean seasons/manegable risk?
I dunno, but I'm going to be on the porch with the small pups for awhile until the snowpack settles out.
SFB said it best as 'Time to go the resort for awhile'
RIP Doug.
</end sweet blog/rant>
Last edited by sfotex; 01-22-2016 at 01:41 PM.
When life gives you haters, make haterade.
The flipside of having lots of experience is that it can be easy to confirmation bias yourself into making a bad decision.
I'm not all that bummed about being on IR this season. Seems like it's an especially complex and dangerous snowpack this year and I get bored with meadow skipping quickly.
Sorry, guess it was 2 years back: http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ncer-Avalanche
When life gives you haters, make haterade.
My thoughts and prayers with Doug's family. And also with Tyson, as the surviving party of an avalanche fatality I know for a fact the guilt, grief and second guessing that he has to endure for the rest of his life is indescribable.
Be safe out there folks!
Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield: Oh, I'm sorry. Did I break your concentration?
Tyson taught my Avy 1 class. It was a great class and I live the ALPTRUTHS to this day. He was a great guy, funny as shit, had tons of knowledge and literally wrote the book on Utah Backcountry Skiing. I cannot fathom what he is going through. The Wasatch is small, these things are tough and have a ripple effect that make you think about the decisions you make. I'm sorry about your friend Skidog, ski in peace Doug...
Our Thursday night afterwork tour was somber and we kept it inside the ropes at Brighton
Stay safe out there yall
i think it was fuck it i'm going to work to put fossil fuels in your car so i aints gots to ride w/ the chicks to bc
and we can stop at ft hall and peeler bars on the way.
interesting final report
no mention of guiding yet a representative from uma was present
seems odd if it wasn't a guided situation
the inability of the airbag to prevent burial sure was sure downplayed to a single sentence
wouldn't want to upset any spansers
strong words dog
it aint so much bout diein doin whatcha luvs or pursuing your addiction
it's about livin that life to the fullest before the inevitable
"When the child was a child it waited patiently for the first snow and it still does"- Van "The Man" Morrison
"I find I have already had my reward, in the doing of the thing" - Buzz Holmstrom
"THIS IS WHAT WE DO"-AML -ski on in eternal peace
"I have posted in here but haven't read it carefully with my trusty PoliAsshat antenna on."-DipshitDanno
well said+
Skied W facing Beartrap aspens 8500-9200'... zipper crusted, not the best skiing. Crust between 1-3" with the occasional soft turn here and there. Relatively warm out and just starting to snow steadily when we left around 2:30pm.
Quick question from an out of towner. What's the name of the small north facing zone in Grizzly opposite Michigan City? Lookers right and early on when skinning out to the pass. Skied it a bunch of times but never got the name of it. Thanks.
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