Avi at silver
- Thread starter POW HEAD
- Start date
1 dead. 5 rescued :\
Do they do avy control on Wardner?
Do they do avy control on Wardner?
I was up there. Buried 5 killed one person. Sad day.
They blasted the Wardner in the morning and shortly after it opened up it happened. Our group was on the way there.
Dino
Yes....Glades...sometimes, Sunset, Wardner where it happened. Was super unstable on wardner with no previous
opening. They must have jumped in early on traverse, most likely in trees. Teledance will most likely have
more precise intel?...as he is most local I know there.
Wow. Travis?
Sad day on Silver. We can all learn something from this. Here's a few photos from the Shoshone Paper pasted below. The avalanche in the second photo appears to have initiated on the concavity where the slope rolls over and becomes a bit steeper in the upper half of Morning Star. Take a look at the depth along that crown line. Be safe out there folks.
https://www.shoshonenewspress.com/local_news/20200107/two_killed_in_silver_mountain_avalanche
https://www.shoshonenewspress.com/local_news/20200107/two_killed_in_silver_mountain_avalanche
Last edited:
Sad day on Silver. We can all learn something from this. Here's a few photos from the Shoshone Paper pasted below. The avalanche in the second photo appears to have initiated on the concavity where the slope rolls over and becomes a bit steeper in the upper half of Morning Star. Take a look at the depth along that crown line. Be safe out there folks.
https://www.shoshonenewspress.com/local_news/20200107/two_killed_in_silver_mountain_avalanche
Yikes. With more snow coming this week...it will only get worse!
PowderPanda
Staff member
This is a sad day for all...
My heart aches for those lost. Sending deepest condolences out to our friends and the families of those lost.
My heart aches for those lost. Sending deepest condolences out to our friends and the families of those lost.
Here is a firsthand account from one of the survivors:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/470116906460595/permalink/1572744332864508/
Incredibly tragic, so sad for the community. And hats off to the rescuers, they must be exhausted.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/470116906460595/permalink/1572744332864508/
Incredibly tragic, so sad for the community. And hats off to the rescuers, they must be exhausted.
Knew both skiers and man...wow....puts live and what we all have to play with up here in N. Idaho in
perspective. Sad sad day!
Super sad! Great job to any who assisted, professionally or otherwise...
Lessons? 1. Would we ever traverse a run like 16:1 in the backcountry under similar circumstances? My answer: No. Just because you are in a resort, doesn't mean everything is safe. Wear your transceivers...batteries are cheap. Patrollers are human, and the snow dragon never sleeps...
2. On a run like that, especially after a major storm (or a major storm and initial opening of the season), treat like you are in the backcountry with backcountry protocols -one at a time, etc...I get the "fever", but whenever I broke that traverse (hint: hundreds of times) I was the "asshole" who hollered back to "stay put until I'm down a ways and then one at a time"...'Asshole', but alive...just sayin'
3. I know they (patrol)did proper control work, not just day of the slide but day before, but I still disagree with letting people hit Wardner from the top, while the large group is cutting across on the traverse below. I never liked that! I would guess the second wave of the avalanche came from the top,caused by the 2-3 snowboarders that started down from there. With conditions as they were, they might not have even known it happened.
4. Ski with a partner in conditions like that...a tree well or? is only a turn away...( The rule I personally break the most...sigh)
Be safe. Remember, it is only skiing, there is always another day to go big, and patience is a virtue.
RIP my friends who are no long with us!
~Tiny
Lessons? 1. Would we ever traverse a run like 16:1 in the backcountry under similar circumstances? My answer: No. Just because you are in a resort, doesn't mean everything is safe. Wear your transceivers...batteries are cheap. Patrollers are human, and the snow dragon never sleeps...
2. On a run like that, especially after a major storm (or a major storm and initial opening of the season), treat like you are in the backcountry with backcountry protocols -one at a time, etc...I get the "fever", but whenever I broke that traverse (hint: hundreds of times) I was the "asshole" who hollered back to "stay put until I'm down a ways and then one at a time"...'Asshole', but alive...just sayin'
3. I know they (patrol)did proper control work, not just day of the slide but day before, but I still disagree with letting people hit Wardner from the top, while the large group is cutting across on the traverse below. I never liked that! I would guess the second wave of the avalanche came from the top,caused by the 2-3 snowboarders that started down from there. With conditions as they were, they might not have even known it happened.
4. Ski with a partner in conditions like that...a tree well or? is only a turn away...( The rule I personally break the most...sigh)
Be safe. Remember, it is only skiing, there is always another day to go big, and patience is a virtue.
RIP my friends who are no long with us!
~Tiny
Are you saying everyone who skis Silver should have a $400 beacon? Where can I buy stock in Peips? If your going out-of-bounds or side-country, I can see having your tools and a partner. It's a slippery slope. Once you got the beacon you'll need a shovel, etc and then a backpack. Tiny-World--you ever seen a slide in that spot? Anyone?
Tragic event all the way around and it seems they've recovered the final victim using RECCO, which is a locator chip common in some ski clothing. I have one in my bibs. You may have one and not know it so check, Some clothing lines make it standard. BD? I would suggest this for the masses. If you do have a RECCO chip, let your partners know.
Tragic event all the way around and it seems they've recovered the final victim using RECCO, which is a locator chip common in some ski clothing. I have one in my bibs. You may have one and not know it so check, Some clothing lines make it standard. BD? I would suggest this for the masses. If you do have a RECCO chip, let your partners know.
All slides started on traverse. Friend (ski patrol) was at top checking cornice! No Boarders....which I suspected.
I have Recco...that works as well. Might buy Beacon...as I will be at Bridger Slussermans...later in season,,,where they
require that to go on lift!
Yo dudes, have your Recco...but how ya gonna find yer friends? Me thinks you just ski chairs and that is fine, but don't try and sell me a Recco system...My $100 OR soft shell and $49 Marmot Gortex shell don't have it...but my Pieps in my hands will find my friends, and hopefully, help them find me should the dragon strike...Practice often and know there is always tomorrow...
Be safe my friends...
~Tiny
(Again, Awesome effort by a bunch of people to get everybody accounted for...Horrible outcomes in some cases, miracles in others...closure is important...RIP )
Be safe my friends...
~Tiny
(Again, Awesome effort by a bunch of people to get everybody accounted for...Horrible outcomes in some cases, miracles in others...closure is important...RIP )
Been skiing that area since 1981 and have never seen it release where this one occurred. I typically put my beacon on when we get more than 12" at Silver but I create slides on many runs especially NFG and the tree shot on Tall Paul, Snake Pit is another spot for that, never had anything move on Wardner, but I only have 26 seasons at Silverhorn/Silver. Very sad day for our family and friends.
Situational awareness is still going to be everyone's best tool for staying safe at all areas in all conditions. I had some friends entering the traverse when someone ahead started noticing shooting cracks along the way, prior to the slide and turned around. they investigated and their gut told them it was too sketchy.
As for Recco, it has been a few years since I patrolled there and they did not have the Recco search device. It is morbid, but Recco is an excellent recovery device, I would never ever try and convince someone that it is a legit means of RESCUE.
I am sure most of us has had close calls. Some maybe not. But remember not to let heuristics get the better of you!
@teledance - I certainly can appreciate the experience and knowledge of the area that you have, but to not risk confusing any less experienced skiers/riders in this group: That is NEVER an excuse not to exercise situational awareness on a slope, whether it be in the middle of a "Storm of the Century" or a 2 week drought.
Lets all play it safe this coming storm, look after your buddies, but continue to enjoy the gift that is a powdery and snowy world...safely.
As for Recco, it has been a few years since I patrolled there and they did not have the Recco search device. It is morbid, but Recco is an excellent recovery device, I would never ever try and convince someone that it is a legit means of RESCUE.
I am sure most of us has had close calls. Some maybe not. But remember not to let heuristics get the better of you!
@teledance - I certainly can appreciate the experience and knowledge of the area that you have, but to not risk confusing any less experienced skiers/riders in this group: That is NEVER an excuse not to exercise situational awareness on a slope, whether it be in the middle of a "Storm of the Century" or a 2 week drought.
Lets all play it safe this coming storm, look after your buddies, but continue to enjoy the gift that is a powdery and snowy world...safely.