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Jackson Hole Death

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Mead
Posts: 285 - Karma: 41
I was pretty much waiting for this to happen but here it is....
(A lot of this is hearsay but a lot of people who were skiing today told me the same story)

Teton Village opened up the Tram and Sublette chair this afternoon. In the past week we have gotten over 50 inches of snow, and the wind has been blowing most nights. On top of that, there was a bad hoarfrost layer underneath it all. This afternoon, Tower 3 chute, Alta 2 chute, Dicks Ditch and Paintbrush went at the same time. These were all inbounds, and open to the public. Five were buried, and one was killed.

Wear your beacons inbounds people, you wouldn't want to be in a situation where you couldn't help someone that was DYING, or worse, be in a situation where people couldn't help you.

Don't get avalanched!
Dec 27 2008 5:54PM
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LMPJibbin
Posts: 1607 - Karma: 17
fuck man....so sad to here about stuff like that. inbounds avy's just shouldnt happen..
Dec 27 2008 5:58PM
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dangerdad
Posts: 2228 - Karma: 317
this is really scary. Im heading out there in a week from the east and i have little to no avy experience and am so broke that there is no way i could afford a beacon. I guess ill just have to play it really safe and ski the low incline stuff when it dumps and be really careful.
Dec 27 2008 5:59PM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10434 - Karma: 9,748
regardless of if you have a beacon or not, you should be paying attention and making the right terrain decisions.

Someone posted this video from tgr.  It shows the rain crust that all the new snow there is sitting on top of.  This is why the snowpack is so dangerous right now.


Loud Powder from Andrew Whiteford on Vimeo.
Dec 27 2008 6:08PM
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eheath
Posts: 61098 - Karma: 118,247
This is getting ridiculous, resorts need to not open shit!! fuck more people are going to keep dying if resorts keep opening shit that is going to avalanche, what the fuck jackson how could you open those chutes in these kind of conditions?? Fuckin' shit.
Dec 27 2008 6:09PM
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inactive
Posts: 4772 - Karma: 97
i skiied there today. they closed down the tram and the gondie at like 1ish. unneving shit for sure. they were blasting so much too....
Dec 27 2008 6:10PM
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Tex.
Posts: 1106 - Karma: 124

so sad to here. already 3 inbounds avalanches at resorts in the west that have resulted in deaths. and even more out of bounds avalanches in the backcountry... litteraly gives me goosebumps, this is not a good year for avalanches. 

Dec 27 2008 6:36PM
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Craigskis
Posts: 6648 - Karma: 1,636
Vibes to the Friends and Family


Once buried if there is no oxygen supply (no air pocket) time is crucial to find the person/s. Anything over 8 minutes if they do survive they are likely to have brain damage. Ski in a group have your peeps, shovel, and probe and know how to use your beacon efficiently enough to use it in a pain situation.

I would like to train a search and rescue dog someday.
Dec 27 2008 6:39PM
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absalon
Posts: 11 - Karma: 10
The report

From Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center's (jhavalanche.org) email advisories.


BTNF Western Wyoming Avalanche Bulletin

Jackson Ranger District, POB 1689, Jackson WY 83001
Issued: Sat December 27, 2008 6:15 PM

.........................

This afternoon there was an avalanche fatality in the Toilet Bowl area of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Two skiers triggered a slab avalanche on a slope that was previously skied and subject to avalanche hazard reduction efforts in the morning. Both were caught and carried. One was deeply buried, located with a transceiver and probe and recovered from a depth of seven feet in less than ten minutes by the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol. Unfortunately he did not survive. Our sincere regrets go out to his friends and family.

Dec 27 2008 8:38PM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
Very sad news. I hate hearing about these stories. Be careful all.
Dec 27 2008 8:55PM
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,086
First Snowbird, then Squaw, now Jackson. Not to mention 2 deaths to rocks at Whistler.

Plus vibes to friends and family, please wear your beacons people. I think I'll have to start carrying my pack inbounds. Not happy about that, but it might be a good idea.
Dec 27 2008 8:59PM
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oldskewl
Posts: 457 - Karma: 10
Someone got buried in the BC here in UT yesterday and they made "a miracle save" it was on a slope less than 30 degrees. You can read all about it on the utah avalanche sight. Everything is so unstable right now it is crazy. There is no reason whatsoever to be in the BC...and when inbounds on exposed terrain be supercareful.
Dec 27 2008 9:25PM
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SkierJulie
Posts: 2495 - Karma: 101
This rain crust flippin' blows.

Posted this in the other thread, but will post it again here...
http://www.tetonat.com/archives/672/avalanche-at-jackson-hole-mountain-resort/
Dec 27 2008 9:43PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Seriously, if Keystone closes mellow shit like North Bowl when there are 10 new inches, how can Jackson Hole open those chutes up?
Dec 27 2008 9:49PM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10434 - Karma: 9,748
Jackson Hole Ski Patrol is some of the best in the world.  Mistakes happen, but it isn't like the patrol is just winging it.

The upper mountain was definitely closed for several days because of this.  They had done the control work, but I believe they are saying there are tons of pockets of instability which you are just not going to be able to completely manage.

It sucks all around, and I am sure the JHSP is kicking themselves tonight, but if the patrol wasn't confident in the control work and snowpack, the terrain would not have been opened.  Sadly they were wrong in this case.
Dec 27 2008 9:52PM
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Drail
Posts: 14011 - Karma: 10,001
I got a buddy in Fernie who is training a dog to become a avi rescue dog. I also got another friend (who also recreates Fernie a lot) who got buried in an avalanche and was found by a avi dog. I think he might even have been the first to ever get recovered by dog.
Dec 27 2008 9:55PM
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SkierJulie
Posts: 2495 - Karma: 101
I wonder what the pressure was like that patrol was getting from management to open the upper mountain since it is winter vacation.

On a different note, two days ago when the whole top was shut down, I was chillin' in the gondi line for hours, and overheard some woman say this... "But, we are guests here, they have to open it for us." It was made super clear by shit wasn't open. Some people are so flippin' dumb.

Anyway, this is so sad. RIP Dave!

Be safe out there kids, and you lose nothing by wearing your avy gear inbounds (granted this case sounds like it was trama since they got him out in 10 minutes). We've been riding with shovels and probes as well the last few days.
Dec 27 2008 9:58PM
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TimmyP
Posts: 2086 - Karma: 126
were they wearing beacons?
did the individual die of trauma or asphyxia?
But seven feet in 10 minutes is pretty good though
Dec 27 2008 10:09PM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10434 - Karma: 9,748
Wearing beacon.

Found in 6 min, uncovered after 10.

no word on cause of death.
Dec 27 2008 10:10PM
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eheath
Posts: 61098 - Karma: 118,247
Yeah i was gonna say, that was quick ski patrol killed it on that. The guy might have died from trauma, not suffocation though.
Dec 27 2008 10:19PM
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ski_DC
Posts: 1347 - Karma: 53
Jackson has been very hairy lately. The patrol and management have been doing an excellent job with avy danger and crowd control. They blew 2.5 months' budget in 3 days (no pun intended) to try and control slides. Nevertheless, the pack is super sketchy. Skiing off thunder today in some low angle trees, stuff was fracturing and was very unstable. I hope people stay aware and careful, this death was a big and unfortunate wake up call
Dec 27 2008 11:04PM
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Peach.
Posts: 3879 - Karma: 933
thats sad bring you shovels probes and beacons because it's not only your life your putting in danger
Dec 27 2008 11:13PM
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sirskizalot
Posts: 4370 - Karma: 161
jesus theres been lots of deaths so far this season. +vibes to all of his friends and family.
Dec 27 2008 11:17PM
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3ski6guy0
Posts: 9201 - Karma: 132
damn this has been such a crazy season so far. theres a new inbounds avy death each week
Dec 27 2008 11:53PM
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inactive
Posts: 4772 - Karma: 97
ski patrol killed it. oh man, bad word choice.
Dec 27 2008 11:58PM
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GGitzen
Posts: 475 - Karma: 17
rain crust is so dangerous!
Dec 28 2008 1:30AM
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Craigskis
Posts: 6648 - Karma: 1,636
Go ahead and hold your breath for 10 minutes straight... I'll even time you if you would like.
Dec 28 2008 9:28AM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
Pretty impressive they found in 6 and uncovered in 10 (through 8 feet of snow). Says a lot about having a beacon.
Dec 28 2008 9:43AM
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