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12-07-2007, 08:13 AM
Experts say skiers and snowboarders should learn an important lesson from last weekend’s deadly avalanche cycle: When the risk is high, stick to controlled areas.
By CRAIG HILL;
The News Tribune
Published: December 7th, 2007 01:00 AM
Rescuers were holding out hope Thursday that three missing snowboarders near Crystal Mountain were still alive, even though the search area was ravaged by avalanches last weekend.
On the fourth day of the search, 30 rescuers looked by air and foot for Seattle residents Kevin Carter, Devlin William and Phillip Hollins. The discovery of a makeshift wooden shelter the men built in recent years turned up no sign they were there in the last few days, said Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer.
The search was to resume this morning and continue, if necessary, until Sunday.
The hope is that the men, who were prepared for an overnight stay, were hunkered down waiting for help. The fear is that they were buried by an avalanche.
The risk of an avalanche was “high” Saturday when the men left and “extreme” Sunday when they were due to return.
“It was one of the worst avalanche cycles I’ve seen in a long time,” said Paul Baugher, director of the Northwest Avalanche Institute.
An avalanche killed two hikers and injured a third north of the Alpental Ski Area last weekend.
Baugher, who has been involved in the search near Crystal Mountain, has dedicated nearly 30 years to avalanche research and education. He says he wants people to learn a lesson from the deadly weekend.
“Avalanche fatalities happen by choice, not by chance,” he said. “When avalanche risk is high it’s not a matter of if there is going to be an avalanche, it’s a matter of when.
“Those are days when it’s not a good time to be going into the mountains unless you are going to a ski area where the conditions are controlled.”
Conditions typically reach the “extreme” level only three or four times per winter, Baugher said. About half of the avalanche fatalities in Western Washington occur when people venture into avalanche-prone terrain when the risk is high, he said.
Since 2001, 19 people have died in avalanches in the Washington Cascades, according to the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.
“It’s sad,” Baugher said. “I think it’s safe to speculate that if people just respect times of ‘high’ and ‘extreme’ avalanche danger we could significantly reduce the number of incidents like this weekend.”
Baugher knows well how nasty conditions were Sunday. As head of the Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol it was his job to control avalanche conditions in the ski area for crews working on the resort’s new lift.
However, he and another ski patrol member were surprised by a slide that partially buried Baugher and completely buried his partner. Baugher was able to quickly dig out himself and save his partner. It was the third time in his career Baugher survived an avalanche.
“I was doing my damnedest out there and I had all the appropriate equipment, explosives, and I know what I’m doing,” Baugher said.
That same day Baugher said he talked to several skiers who tried to hike into regularly open areas of the ski resort such as Green Valley.
“It was very dangerous, but they think they know the terrain because they’ve skied it under controlled circumstances,” Baugher said. “Respect those signs at the ski area and ski in the open areas and you really are safe.”
But for many, skiing with the pack isn’t why they go to the mountain. They want solitude they can’t find in the avalanche-controlled confines of a ski resort.
Baugher said that if those people aren’t checking the avalanche and weather report before they leave, they could be making a deadly mistake.
“The good news is there are very overt warning signs, but you have to do your homework and respect the information,” Baugher said.
People should know the forecast for the duration of the trip and know how to learn about avalanche conditions on their own, Baugher said. The Northwest Avalanche Institute and other organizations teach avalanche classes each year.
The obvious warning signs are rising temperatures, precipitation and wind, Baugher said. The three signs were there last weekend. Couple that with the fact that the snow already was shallow when the weekend storm dumped a heavier load on top.
“It’s like parking an Oldsmobile on a support of potato chips,” Baugher said. “The risk of avalanche is tremendous in those conditions.”
And people shouldn’t be ashamed to let poor conditions scare them off, he said.
“You always need to be flexible, whether that’s turning around, not going or taking a different route,” Baugher said. “Skiing a certain slope and having fun might be your second objective, but staying safe should always be your top priority.”
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497
craig.hill@thenewstribune.com
WASHINGTON AVALANCHE FATALITIES SINCE 2001
Date Incident
This weekend Two hikers killed north of Snoqualmie Pass.
Feb. 24, 2007 Skier killed west of Crystal Mountain.
April 28, 2006 Skier killed in North Cascades.
March 19, 2006 Two snowmobilers killed near Conconully.
Jan. 12, 2005 Skier killed at Alpental Ski Area while it was closed.
Oct. 24, 2004 Climber killed on Mount Rainier’s Ingraham Glacier.
June 13, 2004 Two climbers killed on Mount Rainier’s Liberty Ridge.
April 26, 2004 Snowboarder killed near Mount Baker Ski Area.
Dec. 17, 2003 Snowmobiler killed on Blewett Pass.
Dec. 13, 2003 Snowmobiler killed on Snoqualmie Pass.
Dec. 12, 2003 Snowshoer killed near Mount Baker Ski Area.
Dec. 29, 2002 Skier killed near Crystal Mountain.
April 11, 2001 Snowmobiler killed near Mount Baker.
Feb. 17, 2001 Snowmobiler killed in the Central Cascades.
Jan. 29, 2001 Two snowshoers killed near Stevens Pass.
AVALANCHE GEAR
Paul Baugher, director of the Northwest Avalanche Institute, said the following equipment is vital to be prepared for an avalanche. “And it is key that you have the education and training to use these things,” he said.
• Avalanche beacon
• Shovel
• Avalanche probe
• Latest avalanche report
AVALANCHE INFORMATION
• Northwest Avalanche Institute at avalanche.org/~nai offers avalanche forecasts and education programs.
• Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center at Nwac.us. Forest Service program provides avalanche and weather reports.
• Avalanche hot line: 206-526-6677
Avalanche awareness workshop
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Port Angeles High School. Sponsors: Olympic National Park, Olympic Mountain Rescue and the Port Angeles Winter Sports Club.
Information: Call 360-565-3004.
THE ADVENTURE GUYS
Read more about avalanche preparedness at blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure.
source: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/223135.html
By CRAIG HILL;
The News Tribune
Published: December 7th, 2007 01:00 AM
Rescuers were holding out hope Thursday that three missing snowboarders near Crystal Mountain were still alive, even though the search area was ravaged by avalanches last weekend.
On the fourth day of the search, 30 rescuers looked by air and foot for Seattle residents Kevin Carter, Devlin William and Phillip Hollins. The discovery of a makeshift wooden shelter the men built in recent years turned up no sign they were there in the last few days, said Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer.
The search was to resume this morning and continue, if necessary, until Sunday.
The hope is that the men, who were prepared for an overnight stay, were hunkered down waiting for help. The fear is that they were buried by an avalanche.
The risk of an avalanche was “high” Saturday when the men left and “extreme” Sunday when they were due to return.
“It was one of the worst avalanche cycles I’ve seen in a long time,” said Paul Baugher, director of the Northwest Avalanche Institute.
An avalanche killed two hikers and injured a third north of the Alpental Ski Area last weekend.
Baugher, who has been involved in the search near Crystal Mountain, has dedicated nearly 30 years to avalanche research and education. He says he wants people to learn a lesson from the deadly weekend.
“Avalanche fatalities happen by choice, not by chance,” he said. “When avalanche risk is high it’s not a matter of if there is going to be an avalanche, it’s a matter of when.
“Those are days when it’s not a good time to be going into the mountains unless you are going to a ski area where the conditions are controlled.”
Conditions typically reach the “extreme” level only three or four times per winter, Baugher said. About half of the avalanche fatalities in Western Washington occur when people venture into avalanche-prone terrain when the risk is high, he said.
Since 2001, 19 people have died in avalanches in the Washington Cascades, according to the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.
“It’s sad,” Baugher said. “I think it’s safe to speculate that if people just respect times of ‘high’ and ‘extreme’ avalanche danger we could significantly reduce the number of incidents like this weekend.”
Baugher knows well how nasty conditions were Sunday. As head of the Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol it was his job to control avalanche conditions in the ski area for crews working on the resort’s new lift.
However, he and another ski patrol member were surprised by a slide that partially buried Baugher and completely buried his partner. Baugher was able to quickly dig out himself and save his partner. It was the third time in his career Baugher survived an avalanche.
“I was doing my damnedest out there and I had all the appropriate equipment, explosives, and I know what I’m doing,” Baugher said.
That same day Baugher said he talked to several skiers who tried to hike into regularly open areas of the ski resort such as Green Valley.
“It was very dangerous, but they think they know the terrain because they’ve skied it under controlled circumstances,” Baugher said. “Respect those signs at the ski area and ski in the open areas and you really are safe.”
But for many, skiing with the pack isn’t why they go to the mountain. They want solitude they can’t find in the avalanche-controlled confines of a ski resort.
Baugher said that if those people aren’t checking the avalanche and weather report before they leave, they could be making a deadly mistake.
“The good news is there are very overt warning signs, but you have to do your homework and respect the information,” Baugher said.
People should know the forecast for the duration of the trip and know how to learn about avalanche conditions on their own, Baugher said. The Northwest Avalanche Institute and other organizations teach avalanche classes each year.
The obvious warning signs are rising temperatures, precipitation and wind, Baugher said. The three signs were there last weekend. Couple that with the fact that the snow already was shallow when the weekend storm dumped a heavier load on top.
“It’s like parking an Oldsmobile on a support of potato chips,” Baugher said. “The risk of avalanche is tremendous in those conditions.”
And people shouldn’t be ashamed to let poor conditions scare them off, he said.
“You always need to be flexible, whether that’s turning around, not going or taking a different route,” Baugher said. “Skiing a certain slope and having fun might be your second objective, but staying safe should always be your top priority.”
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497
craig.hill@thenewstribune.com
WASHINGTON AVALANCHE FATALITIES SINCE 2001
Date Incident
This weekend Two hikers killed north of Snoqualmie Pass.
Feb. 24, 2007 Skier killed west of Crystal Mountain.
April 28, 2006 Skier killed in North Cascades.
March 19, 2006 Two snowmobilers killed near Conconully.
Jan. 12, 2005 Skier killed at Alpental Ski Area while it was closed.
Oct. 24, 2004 Climber killed on Mount Rainier’s Ingraham Glacier.
June 13, 2004 Two climbers killed on Mount Rainier’s Liberty Ridge.
April 26, 2004 Snowboarder killed near Mount Baker Ski Area.
Dec. 17, 2003 Snowmobiler killed on Blewett Pass.
Dec. 13, 2003 Snowmobiler killed on Snoqualmie Pass.
Dec. 12, 2003 Snowshoer killed near Mount Baker Ski Area.
Dec. 29, 2002 Skier killed near Crystal Mountain.
April 11, 2001 Snowmobiler killed near Mount Baker.
Feb. 17, 2001 Snowmobiler killed in the Central Cascades.
Jan. 29, 2001 Two snowshoers killed near Stevens Pass.
AVALANCHE GEAR
Paul Baugher, director of the Northwest Avalanche Institute, said the following equipment is vital to be prepared for an avalanche. “And it is key that you have the education and training to use these things,” he said.
• Avalanche beacon
• Shovel
• Avalanche probe
• Latest avalanche report
AVALANCHE INFORMATION
• Northwest Avalanche Institute at avalanche.org/~nai offers avalanche forecasts and education programs.
• Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center at Nwac.us. Forest Service program provides avalanche and weather reports.
• Avalanche hot line: 206-526-6677
Avalanche awareness workshop
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Port Angeles High School. Sponsors: Olympic National Park, Olympic Mountain Rescue and the Port Angeles Winter Sports Club.
Information: Call 360-565-3004.
THE ADVENTURE GUYS
Read more about avalanche preparedness at blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure.
source: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/223135.html