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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    CO
    Posts
    623

    Avalanche fatality Beaver Creek sidecountry?

    Only hearing bits and pieces, heard it was on the backside of McCoy. And something about BC patrol winching a cat down for recovery. Anyone else know anything?

    Pretty sure this was an old friend of mine

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    19,201
    Fatal Avalanche Accident in Vail and Summit County Zone
    On Monday, March 22, 2021, a skier was caught and killed in an avalanche outside of the Beaver Creek Ski Area boundary in an area locally known as Sanctuary Chute. Our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the victim. This is the 12th avalanche fatality in Colorado this season. Read the preliminary report here.

    https://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/a...ep&view=public

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Posts
    2,480
    Is this zone to the NW of the Larkspur top terminal?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    5,013
    Definitely a local head. I'm dreading the news.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Eagle County
    Posts
    12,612
    Quote Originally Posted by SKIP IN7RO View Post
    Is this zone to the NW of the Larkspur top terminal?
    Yes....and yes another local. Brutal


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
    ROLL TIDE ROLL

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    Bay Area
    Posts
    751
    More info: https://www.vaildaily.com/news/eagle...-beaver-creek/

    Tough winter for the valley

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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    CO
    Posts
    623
    It's been a few years but had some great days with Gary skiing lines in EV and canyoneering in the Roost. He was a former patroller and all around good dude- kind, humble, soft-spoken. We had drifted apart but my life was brighter knowing that he was still getting after it high up in the Gore. And to have this happen, in the slackcountry on a green/yellow day, is just... fuck it all.

    RIP old friend

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	gary utah.jpg 
Views:	237 
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ID:	368687



    Gary Allen Smith, 37, was caught and killed in an avalanche in the backcountry near Beaver Creek Resort on Monday, the Eagle County Coroner has confirmed.

    The avalanche occurred in an area near the bottom of the Larkspur Bowl known as the Sanctuary Chute, below treeline in a steep northwest-facing chute at an elevation of around 10,500 feet near the Lime Creek drainage. Smith was trapped in the slide and his skiing companion was able to locate him, dig him out and call for help, but Smith did not survive.

    The Colorado Avalanche Information Center filed an initial report on Monday and will file a follow-up report.

    The fatality is the 35th avalanche death in the U.S. this season and the 12th in Colorado, making it the deadliest avalanche season since the 1992-93 season in Colorado, when 12 people also died.

    Smith was a well-known local backcountry skier who worked at a backcountry shop and was a gear editor at wildsnow.com. The website describes him as an “obsessive tinkerer and modifier of his gear, rarely satisfied with stock options and always looking for improvement.”
    Gary Allen Smith is remembered as a backcountry adventurer who loved winter.

    Smith is a former ski patroller who began backcountry touring after an injury. Before moving to the Vail area he lived in Taos, New Mexico.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    It's Full of Stars....
    Posts
    4,850
    Quote Originally Posted by leftfield View Post
    It's been a few years but had some great days with Gary skiing lines in EV and canyoneering in the Roost. He was a former patroller and all around good dude- kind, humble, soft-spoken. We had drifted apart but my life was brighter knowing that he was still getting after it high up in the Gore. And to have this happen, in the slackcountry on a green/yellow day, is just... fuck it all.

    RIP old friend

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	gary utah.jpg 
Views:	237 
Size:	566.5 KB 
ID:	368687



    Gary Allen Smith, 37, was caught and killed in an avalanche in the backcountry near Beaver Creek Resort on Monday, the Eagle County Coroner has confirmed.

    The avalanche occurred in an area near the bottom of the Larkspur Bowl known as the Sanctuary Chute, below treeline in a steep northwest-facing chute at an elevation of around 10,500 feet near the Lime Creek drainage. Smith was trapped in the slide and his skiing companion was able to locate him, dig him out and call for help, but Smith did not survive.

    The Colorado Avalanche Information Center filed an initial report on Monday and will file a follow-up report.

    The fatality is the 35th avalanche death in the U.S. this season and the 12th in Colorado, making it the deadliest avalanche season since the 1992-93 season in Colorado, when 12 people also died.

    Smith was a well-known local backcountry skier who worked at a backcountry shop and was a gear editor at wildsnow.com. The website describes him as an “obsessive tinkerer and modifier of his gear, rarely satisfied with stock options and always looking for improvement.”
    Gary Allen Smith is remembered as a backcountry adventurer who loved winter.

    Smith is a former ski patroller who began backcountry touring after an injury. Before moving to the Vail area he lived in Taos, New Mexico.
    Oh man Lefty, I am so sorry.....Fuck it all indeed. Vibes to you and yours, and to Gary's family.......
    What we have here is an intelligence failure. You may be familiar with staring directly at that when shaving. .
    -Ottime
    One man can only push so many boulders up hills at one time.
    -BMillsSkier

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Not in the PRB
    Posts
    32,776
    RIP Gary
    "fuck off you asshat gaper shit for brains fucktard wanker." - Jesus Christ
    "She was tossing her bean salad with the vigor of a Drunken Pop princess so I walked out of the corner and said.... "need a hand?"" - Odin
    "everybody's got their hooks into you, fuck em....forge on motherfuckers, drag all those bitches across the goal line with you." - (not so) ill-advised strategy

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Where the sheets have no stains
    Posts
    22,062
    RIP.
    I have been in this State for 30 years and I am willing to admit that I am part of the problem.

    "Happiest years of my life were earning < $8.00 and hour, collecting unemployment every spring and fall, no car, no debt and no responsibilities. 1984-1990 Park City UT"

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    beaverhead county
    Posts
    4,528
    vibes
    swing your fucking sword.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    In the swamp
    Posts
    11,124
    RIP.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    2,620
    RIP. I never knew Gary but appreciated his writing on WildSnow. He did a great job of communicating a lot of information. And most importantly sounded like an exemplary human.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    821
    I also really trusted his boot reviews and especially enjoyed the writings from AK. Major bummer

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Northern Colorado
    Posts
    127
    Quote Originally Posted by leftfield View Post
    It's been a few years but had some great days with Gary skiing lines in EV and canyoneering in the Roost. He was a former patroller and all around good dude- kind, humble, soft-spoken. We had drifted apart but my life was brighter knowing that he was still getting after it high up in the Gore. And to have this happen, in the slackcountry on a green/yellow day, is just... fuck it all.

    RIP old friend

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	gary utah.jpg 
Views:	237 
Size:	566.5 KB 
ID:	368687



    Gary Allen Smith, 37, was caught and killed in an avalanche in the backcountry near Beaver Creek Resort on Monday, the Eagle County Coroner has confirmed.

    The avalanche occurred in an area near the bottom of the Larkspur Bowl known as the Sanctuary Chute, below treeline in a steep northwest-facing chute at an elevation of around 10,500 feet near the Lime Creek drainage. Smith was trapped in the slide and his skiing companion was able to locate him, dig him out and call for help, but Smith did not survive.

    The Colorado Avalanche Information Center filed an initial report on Monday and will file a follow-up report.

    The fatality is the 35th avalanche death in the U.S. this season and the 12th in Colorado, making it the deadliest avalanche season since the 1992-93 season in Colorado, when 12 people also died.

    Smith was a well-known local backcountry skier who worked at a backcountry shop and was a gear editor at wildsnow.com. The website describes him as an “obsessive tinkerer and modifier of his gear, rarely satisfied with stock options and always looking for improvement.”
    Gary Allen Smith is remembered as a backcountry adventurer who loved winter.

    Smith is a former ski patroller who began backcountry touring after an injury. Before moving to the Vail area he lived in Taos, New Mexico.
    sorry to hear about this. Godspeed

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    Taterville
    Posts
    950
    RIP

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    N side, Terrace, BC
    Posts
    5,144
    Sorry for your loss guys. Guy sounded like a good man and was taken way too soon.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Posts
    85
    He's too young. RIP...

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    2,071
    Someone got partially buried the other day coming down from the Bald Spot.
    "True love is much easier to find with a helicopter"

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Aspen
    Posts
    3,058
    Very sad to hear about Gary. Never met him but I really appreciated his content on Wildsnow. Definitely one of their best contributors


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  21. #21
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Tahoe
    Posts
    16,124
    There is a report up on CAIC. Can't tell if it is preliminary or final. Doesn't have all the info typically associated with a final report but it also usually starts off by saying it's a preliminary report if that's the case.
    https://avalanche.state.co.us/accidents/colorado/
    powdork.com - new and improved, with 20% more dork.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    The turn
    Posts
    26
    RIP Ghostrider. Miss you brother.


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  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    cb, co
    Posts
    5,034

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Fresh Lake City
    Posts
    4,573
    RIP. I didn't know the deceased but knew of him and we shared mutual friends. Sad season.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    the Low Sierra
    Posts
    17,818
    I didn't believe in reincarnation when I was your age either.

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