Avy fatality at Crystal

Post Reply
PAL
Posts: 1304
Joined: Tue May 25, 2021 1:25 pm
Contact:

Re: Avy fatality at Crystal

Post by PAL »

The photo shows how insane people are!
Pearl Cherrington
Fun CH
Posts: 1440
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2021 4:22 pm
Contact:

Re: Avy fatality at Crystal

Post by Fun CH »

Still not understanding your concept of the "rescue troll".

I study accidents to increase situational awareness and liken avalanche accidents to any accident like a carpenter falling off a roof because it had morning frost and the carpenter should have waited for that frost to melt or take other safety precautions like roping up. Or an auto accident where the driver is in a big hurry and driving without complete focus on the road.

One of my early ski mountain climbing mentors, who also climbed rock and like me was a carpenter, warned me to steer clear from commercial guides.

He knew that many who call themselves guides are not fit to lead a group of inexperienced people through a potentially dangerous situation in the mountains.

That is why I'm so adamant about a potential clients right to view guide company safety records including near miss accidents. Those types of accidents, where no one is injured hold alot of lessons that can be scrutinized without disrespecting the loved ones of and the person killed in a more serious accident.

A near miss accident is a good indicator that you're taking risks beyond your skill and knowledge set.

But there is no doubt that commercial guiding changes the mountains into something more like the world below.
052819-mount-everest-1280x720.jpg


Commercial guiding often increases risk for those caught up in the Fray.
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding--Nick Lowe
Can't talk to a man who don't want to understand--Carol King
Fun CH
Posts: 1440
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2021 4:22 pm
Contact:

Re: Avy fatality at Crystal

Post by Fun CH »

Alf, most of us who take risks in the mountains for some time have been lucky enough to have survived a mistake. I've survived 3 potentially fatal mistakes where the warning signs were there but either I wasn't experienced enough at the time to understand the hazard or chose to rationalize away the hazard in favor of my desire to push on. So I definality could have been in this fellows shoes, and therefore not here to judge his groups actions as being foolish.

All we can do is learn from our mistakes and hopefully share the lessons learned from those mistakes and do better next time.

I don't see much hate directed towards others in the mountains so don't understand what you're point is there or what that has to do with this particular fatal accident.

In my world here in this Valley, I had good mountain mentors when needed and passed that good will and mentorship along to others. That included a few who later became mountain guides, some becoming good friends and was happy for them reaching their desired goals.

I do think however that they understand by now that I hold commercial mountain guides to a higher standard of care to those who have entrusted their lives in their chosen guides abilities.

Potential guided clients are still not receiving commercial guide safety records vital to their own risk assessment and thats a failure of public land management agency policies.

In our area that agency would be the Forest Service that choses not to successively mitigate public health and safety concerns.
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding--Nick Lowe
Can't talk to a man who don't want to understand--Carol King
Gonzo'57
Posts: 32
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2021 5:40 pm
Contact:

Re: Avy fatality at Crystal

Post by Gonzo'57 »

The death on Crystal Mountain is indeed a sad event. Sometimes things just go wrong. I have experienced this myself as I am sure you many of you have.

Alf, you are correct that many people would rather armchair quarterback and second guess about what went wrong. I get the impression that they haven't been out there and done that. sh** goes wrong and sometimes, no matter how well trained you are you or how much experience you have, sh** goes wrong. Here's a grate read, if you can find it - Minus 148 Degrees: The Story of the First Winter Ascent of Mount McKinley. An horrific account of how things can go wrong.

Here's what I'm wondering: As I read it, this group was skiing in an area that had not been officially opened by Crystal Mountain and either ignored the avalanche conditions or were not educated in avalanche dangers and avoidance. How long before the "Wrongful Death" lawsuit is filed?

mister-coffee, I use to read "Accidents in North American Mountaineering". I found it fascinating. Gave me lots of insight and things to think about. I changed the way I was doing things in a number of areas.
User avatar
mister_coffee
Posts: 1388
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 7:35 pm
Location: Winthrop, WA
Contact:

Re: Avy fatality at Crystal

Post by mister_coffee »

On the other hand during my period as a larval crag rat my friend's had a tradition of reading that year's edition of _Accidents In North American Mountaineering_ out loud to each other when it came it each spring. It certainly taught us a lot of humility about how even very experienced, very skilled people could make ugly mistakes.
:arrow: David Bonn :idea:
PAL
Posts: 1304
Joined: Tue May 25, 2021 1:25 pm
Contact:

Re: Avy fatality at Crystal

Post by PAL »

I am impressed with the report and the amount of detail. It states exactly what was going on. Very sad, the death. Even experienced BC skiers have died. The mountains don't care.
Pearl Cherrington
Fun CH
Posts: 1440
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2021 4:22 pm
Contact:

Re: Avy fatality at Crystal

Post by Fun CH »

NWAC report

Silver Basin Avalanche Fatality
December 11, 2021
Report by Dallas Glass and Andy Harrington
Incident Summary

On the morning of Saturday, December 11, a party of 6 skiers toured from the parking lot at Crystal Mt. The group planned to ski Silver Basin, a section of the ski area that had not yet been opened for
the season, had not received avalanche mitigation, and thus contained a backcountry snowpack.

After a short break near the bottom of the basin, the team began a long ascending traverse heading towards Silver Saddle. About 250 vertical feet below the ridgeline locally known as Box Car, the group noticed small cracks and felt “the snow change.” They turned back across the slope, intending to find a place to transition for the ski down. At this point, all six members were close together and the slope
avalanched. The entire party was caught and carried and three were fully buried. A nearby party of two witnessed the accident, called 911, and assisted with the rescue.

Crystal Mt Ski Patrol was
notified of the accident through 911 and also responded to the scene. Although two of the buried
skiers were rescued, the third sustained multiple injuries.
The party was escorted away from the scene by ski patrol and several volunteers. The Northwest Avalanche Center and Crystal Mt Ski Patrol returned to the scene on December 12 to conduct an avalanche investigation.
A complete report will be released in the coming weeks.
Occurrence Time and Date: Approx 10:50 on Dec 11, 2021
Time First Reported to SAR: 10:50

Recovery/Rescue Time: Approximately 25min, All members were located and extracted by 11:16
Lat/Lon: 46.91158, -121.50222
Location: Crystal Mountain Ski Area, Silver Basin, Pierce County, Mt Baker-Snoqualmie NF, WA
Number in Party: 6
Number Caught: 6
Number Partially Buried, Critical or Not-critical: 1 partial non-critical, 2 partial critical
Number Completely Buried: 3
Duration of Burial: <15min
Number Injured: 0
Number Killed: 1
Avalanche Type: SS
Trigger: ASu
Size: R3 /D2.5
Start Zone Aspect: NE-E
Start Zone Angle: Est. Avg 35
Start Zone Elevation: Approx: 6600’
Northwest Avalanche Centerwww.nwac.us

Height of Crown Face: Est. 2’
Width of Fracture: Estimated 600’
Vertical Fall: Est: 800’
Slab Characteristics: Unknown
Weak Layer Characteristics: Unknown
Bed Surface Characteristics: Unknown
Burial involved a terrain trap: Yes, trees and small cliff.
Number of people that crossed start zone before avalanche: None
Avalanche occurred during: Ascent
Location of group in relation to start zone during avalanche: All six members were grouped
together in the middle of the start zone.
Avalanche Safety Gear Carried: All members carried shovels, probes, and transceivers
Avalanche Training and Experience at Activity: Most if not all members in the group had a Level 1
Signs of Instability Noted by Group: Blowing snow, significant new snow, small shooting cracks
Extent of Injuries or Cause of Death:
● Skier 2: was found unconscious and not breathing. Once revived he reported no injuries and
did not seek medical attention.
● Skier 4: was strained through a stand of small trees and sustained blunt trauma.
○ M.E. cause of death: “multiple blunt force injuries”
NWAC Forecast Zone: West South Zone
Avalanche Danger Rating (Above, Near or Below Tree-line):
The forecasted avalanche danger was Considerable near and above tree-line and Moderate below tree-line at
the time of the accident. You can read the forecast for 12/11 here.
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding--Nick Lowe
Can't talk to a man who don't want to understand--Carol King
Fun CH
Posts: 1440
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2021 4:22 pm
Contact:

Avy fatality at Crystal

Post by Fun CH »

Statement from Crystal Mt.

Wonder if he might have survived if the whole group had not been buried?

"OFFICIAL AVALANCHE STATEMENT
Crystal Plaza
DECEMBER 11, 2021

Crystal Mountain, WA - At approximately 10:50am on December 11, 2021, an avalanche was reported in a closed area of the resort known as Silver Basin. This area was uncontrolled and not mitigated for avalanche hazard since this area had not yet opened for the season. Six backcountry skiers, wearing avalanche transceivers, were travelling uphill and triggered the avalanche which caught all six individuals. Two additional unrelated backcountry skiers were also in the area and witnessed the avalanche and then reported the incident to Ski Patrol. Ski Patrol arrived and immediately began assisting in recovery efforts. Five members of the party were successfully recovered while one member was found unconscious. Resuscitation efforts began at approximately 11:05am, and at 11:15am, after no response, they suspended CPR efforts and waited for Ski Patrol to arrive to recover the victim and escort the group down the mountain. The skier was a male in his 60’s.

Crystal Mountain has received twelve inches of snow in the last 24 hours, with winds reaching 100mph at the summit. As snow continues to fall, Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol reminds backcountry skiers to research uphill travel policies and check the avalanche forecasts before heading into the backcountry.

The Northwest Avalanche Center will conduct a full investigation which can be found on the NWAC website.

As skiers and riders ourselves, this event saddens all of us here at Crystal Mountain. We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. We are working closely with the families of all the affected individuals to ensure their continued care.

This statement will be updated on our Media page if additional information becomes available."
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding--Nick Lowe
Can't talk to a man who don't want to understand--Carol King
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests