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Snowboarder killed on Berthoud

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teleak
Posts: 2251 - Karma: 105
If you read the accident summary, it explains that neither of the snowboarders were carrying any safety equipment. This is so tragic, this death was easily preventable. CAIC (Colorado Avalanche Information Center) deemed the avalanche danger as level 4 / high for this area of the state and if these people knew what they were doing, this wouldn't have happened. Up to two feet+ of snow and extremely high winds made backcountry travel heinously dangerous at the time.
So NS, please, please don't go skiing in the backcountry if you don't know what you're doing and don't have proper equipment. Be safe and enjoy your winter.

Here's the accident report.

http://avalanche.state.co.us/acc/acc_report.php?acc_id=277&accfm=off

Avalanche Details
•Location: "High Trail Cliffs," northeast of Berthoud Pass
•State: Colorado
•Date: 2011/01/17
•Time: 11:30 AM (Estimated)
•Summary Description: 1 snowboarder caught, buried, and killed
•Primary Activity: Backcountry Tourer
•Location Setting: Backcountry

Number
•Caught: 1
•Partially Buried, Non-Critical: 0
•Partially Buried, Critical: 0
•Fully Buried: 1
•Injured: 0
•Killed: 1
Avalanche
•Type: --
•Trigger: AR - Snowboarder
•Trigger (subcode): u - An unintentional release
•Size - Relative to Path: --
•Size - Destructive Force: --
•Sliding Surface: --
Site
•Slope Aspect: NW
•Site Elevation: 11200 ft
•Slope Angle: --
•Slope Characteristic: --


Avalanche Comments
The avalanche was triggered at the beginning of a large natural avalanche cycle.

Accident Summary
The morning of Monday, January 17 2011, a pair of snowboarders, and one dog, climbed several hundred feet above Berthoud Pass and traversed northeast above the "High Trail Cliffs." The pair triggered an avalanche. One boarder and the dog were caught and buried. His partner was not caught. He did a hasty search, found no sign of his partner, and descended to the road to summon help. Neither were wearing avalanche safety equipment.

Rescue Summary
The body was recovered by an organized probe line (Grand County Search and Rescue) on Wednesday, January 19 2011.
Jan 19 2011 10:38PM
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SkiThe603
Posts: 5376 - Karma: 498
holy shit, there have been alot of deaths in the winter sports industry this year, RIP to the guy
Jan 19 2011 10:40PM
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PJS.
Posts: 11943 - Karma: 895
beacons
probes
shovels

can save lives
nonetheless sad to hear
Jan 19 2011 10:40PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,861
Add a brain to that. There are lots of skiers that think since they have a beacon, shovel, and probe that they are invincible in the bc.
Jan 19 2011 10:45PM
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PON3
Posts: 3817 - Karma: 783
well add that all together and what do we get?
Jan 19 2011 10:51PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
This isn't the time to criticize another person's mistakes, let's all just take it as a reality check and another reminder of how powerful the mountain can be. RIP.
Jan 19 2011 10:52PM
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.jesus.
Posts: 2288 - Karma: 22
its the perfect time to criticize if the dumbass had safety gear and knew what the fuck he was doing i would not be typing this right now. yeah it's sad but shit if your gonna go ski back country have a beacon probe and shovel at least and know if it's even safe to be out there.
Jan 19 2011 11:02PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,090
yeah his name is jeff miller, a buddy of mine... I'm dumbfounded... to say the least.
Jan 19 2011 11:15PM
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john.stossel
Posts: 943 - Karma: 5
poor dog too
Jan 19 2011 11:21PM
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Tyran
Posts: 314 - Karma: 15
and a dog too. that sucks bad
Jan 19 2011 11:23PM
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curator
Posts: 86 - Karma: 11
I drove over the pass that morning before it closed for the next two days. Was very windy, near total white-out conditions, this pic is from the day after(blasting) the snowboarder was buried   
 


  

Click for larger image
Jan 19 2011 11:41PM
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Fish_Sandwich.
Posts: 9108 - Karma: 16
Good judgment saves lives.  You can have a backpack full of transceivers but if you dropped into a dumb situation it won't mean shit. 
Jan 19 2011 11:55PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
the dude who survived posted on TGR last night asking for help...he said he saw the slide happen but both the dog and rider were fine, but he lost them later on. then he made some more laps in the area looking for them. And not to stereotype, but most dudes on TGR go into the BC prepared. something just sounds off...
Jan 19 2011 11:57PM
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bryansbryan
Posts: 645 - Karma: 7
fucking idiots. might as well partake in driving while blackout every friday.
Jan 20 2011 12:15AM
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tripnip
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 482
... RIP ... this just shows you can never be to careful if you dont know what your doing dont do it.





did the dog die??? oh god i hope not why couldnt he have had a cat with him
Jan 20 2011 12:23AM
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CassiusClay
Posts: 1757 - Karma: 2
I guess, it just seems easy enough to learn about bc and pick up equipment than having to risk it.
Jan 20 2011 3:47AM
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snomaster
Posts: 3336 - Karma: 5,677
Let's hope this doesn't get you some day.
Avy conditions are different in subtle pockets every day. All you have to do is see the complexity of the hazard rose that the Utah Avalanch Center throws up each day to get that point.
You obviously are passionate about skiing a lot, why don't you man up and get the gear and take a course? Life will only get better.
/callout
Jan 20 2011 7:37AM
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