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Jamie Pierre slide investigation

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penguiin
Posts: 1444 - Karma: 561
http://www.powdermag.com/stories/uac-releases-pierre-slide-investigation-photos/
Nov 15 2011 12:04AM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,479
absolutely shocking...

Click for larger image


rip jamie
Nov 15 2011 12:06AM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
illuminating and humbling.

rip
Nov 15 2011 12:09AM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
damn... That first slide they caused was pretty massive.

RIP
Nov 15 2011 12:11AM
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Malczyk
Posts: 1435 - Karma: 1,895
holy playing with fire, they were not thinking. .after I set off a giant avalanche, I'd probably call it a day. fuck!
Nov 15 2011 12:14AM
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notimportant44
Posts: 64 - Karma: 7
avy rating the day of was considerable/high, he had no gear (i understand it wouldnt have helped but if you're going into the backcountry you should be prepared), he even started a big slide on the way up and still chose to ride a 40 degree slope despite first hand knowledge of the conditions. his poor choices have left behind a wife and 2 kids who are now going to grow up without a father. it is a complete tragedy that he has died, but this could have been prevented so easily with a little forethought. regardless, RIP to one of the gnarliest huckers around.
Nov 15 2011 12:19AM
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FreeWilley
Posts: 464 - Karma: 134
It says the slide that killed him was down the South Chute zone at snowbird. any idea where that is and what trail it is on the trail map?
Nov 15 2011 12:26AM
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penguiin
Posts: 1444 - Karma: 561
i heard it was called "barry barry steep", not 100% sure on that though...
Nov 15 2011 12:32AM
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forrest-cole
Posts: 1145 - Karma: 495
I'd like to know what was on his mind seeing that first big slide and moving on liking nothing, especially with out avy gear. Maybe he was just feeling to comfortable in the early season or what, but either way we can all agree this is horribly tragic. Jamie was definitely a legend to me and will be greatly missed by everyone, as well as all the other great skiers.



Be safe in the back country this year, for whoever is into getting out a lot. It definitely could be a really scetchy year for most of these western states, so keep it chill when you need too! One of the biggest things is being able to turn back whether it's the worst day, or the best day of your life, cause that could be your last.

SIP
Nov 15 2011 12:41AM
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Gknow
Posts: 627 - Karma: 358
it was a dangerous day. RIP Jamie
Nov 15 2011 12:42AM
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snomaster
Posts: 3346 - Karma: 5,771
one of the biggest reasons I want an air bag pack is to protect from trauma. it's also why I bought a POC helmet last year. fuck that looks so boney to get ragged through.
Nov 15 2011 1:21AM
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Che~
Posts: 2108 - Karma: 296
well said
Nov 15 2011 1:22AM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,011
seriously? wtf. let's just hope that this opens other peoples eyes and learn from his mistakes.

terribly tragic.
Nov 15 2011 1:51AM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
perfectly put
Nov 15 2011 1:53AM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
as humans, we only get to roll the dice so many times.

saw him hiking up to that run from alta. i am wondering what they snowboarded to get to the cirque? it would have been northwest facing most likely.... either the keyhole or baldy.

maybe because they had already successfully rode a NW face they thought that they could ride another one and dismissed the cirque slide on the fact that that is east facing. either way never good when someone dies.
Nov 15 2011 10:45AM
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TheGnarwhal
Posts: 871 - Karma: 49
This, this, this.
Nov 15 2011 11:19AM
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Lord.Quasimoto
Posts: 958 - Karma: 33
sad to see such a well respected pro go out like that.
Nov 15 2011 11:35AM
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,124

A viddy from alta that day

thankfully my bro waited till our wives left after a few mellow wildcat baldy shoulder runs for pushin it and both heard and saw the slide and warnings

be safe and educated

try not to let moth

er nature bitch slap you cause she will

Nov 16 2011 12:34PM
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lalalalaura
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 68
Wow.

I definitely don't agree with his decision making that day, and hope his passing will serve as a wake up call to those risking it everyday.

Please please please be safe out there.

RIP
Nov 16 2011 12:40PM
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Rez4frederick
Posts: 4740 - Karma: 40
Yea skiing in a natural avalanche chute is never good...
Nov 16 2011 1:38PM
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belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,274
Yup it was over right above big emma. I dont know why hed go over there just because all the rocks, seems sketchy to say the least.
Nov 16 2011 2:19PM
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montanan
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 1,346
good decision / bad decision , i dont care fucking RIP .. the guy was an amazing talented skiier and probly had seen and witnessed much gnarlier things than that on a first hand basis, and still chose to ride. this guy has been a pro for as long as some members on this site have been alive. im not saying go do dangerous stuff in the backcountry with no gear, especially after witnessing an avalanche but, , i just dont want to remember jamie like that. if someone asked me what happened id say he died skiing , in an avalanche doing what he loved the most in life. even after he saw an avalanche. i will remember him for the true og he is, not for making one bad decision that day..just my opinion,. . RIP jamie it was an honor to watch you ride growing up. he was truly an idol for me and my friends growing up.
Nov 16 2011 2:26PM
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49566738265
Posts: 0 - Karma: 7,704
Can you correct a bit to add some contrast? I can barely see anything in the video that looks like a slide.
Nov 16 2011 2:45PM
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triebby
Posts: 8670 - Karma: 2,190
Spot on.
Nov 16 2011 3:20PM
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AEROPLAEHN
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 192
South Chute, pretty sure lookers left of Carpenter Cliffs / Forbidden Forest / Barry Barry Steep.
Nov 16 2011 5:04PM
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dylhole
Posts: 2926 - Karma: 983
Agreed.  Everyone who puts in a lot of days in the backcountry has their sketchy moments.  Just sucks his turned out as horrendously as it did.  I was always stoked running into Jamie in the backcountry, always a smile ear to ear, just stoked to be out in the powder.  Thats exactly how I'll remember him.
Nov 16 2011 8:35PM
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STAUSS
Posts: 8232 - Karma: 3,311
that picture is fucked up.  REST IN PEACE.
Nov 16 2011 9:03PM
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,846
Dude hucked a 225 ft cliff, and has been in countless videos slaying backcountry, he knew what he was doing, just took the risk that day and paid the price.

RIP Jamie
Nov 16 2011 9:13PM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
RIP jamie
There were a lot of ppl out that day taking risks that they really shouldn't have that in 20 20 hindsight  I wouldn't have caught myself ever on. Those early season pow turns can be tempting but keep your head on straight when your out there. Even from the pictures you could tell that stability was questionable at best
Nov 16 2011 9:26PM
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TM_LoCo
Posts: 46 - Karma: 10
Jamie would come and teach classes up here at the resort i work at in the winter with his wife and daughter or daughters im not sure how much he had, but he will be very missed. i hope the family is doing well. RIP Jamie Pierre you were a BEAST, highlight of my year meeting you last year
Nov 16 2011 9:32PM
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YoungJah
Posts: 1106 - Karma: 66
I have no first hand knowledge of the utah snowpack, or the topography of the accident sight. But here are some of my thoughts?

-Shallow snowpack = low consequences in terms of burial?

-If a slide was to a occur, higher consequences of serious injury, or in this case death.

-Lured into a false sense of security?

-Ignored signs of instability?

-Peer pressure?

Whatever their thoughts were for that day, it's still a tragic loss.
Nov 16 2011 10:29PM
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penguiin
Posts: 1444 - Karma: 561
you might not get buried as easily but that means you are more prone to hitting rocks and trees which will kill you just as easily as getting buried. i dont think it was a false sense of security since he knew that there were warnings for avalanches that day and the fact that he already caused a pretty big slide earlier that day. it sure as hell wasnt peer pressure, he is fuckin jamie Pierre who jumped off a 250 ft cliff, no pressure needed to make some simple pow runs.

i dont think anybody will know there thoughts, all we know is that we lost a legend but all we can hope for is that his life and even his death made a positive impact on many people.

RIP Jamie
Nov 16 2011 10:58PM
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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324
He was definitely caught up in te preseason pow stoke and wasn't applying the necessary safer precautions. RIP
Nov 16 2011 11:16PM
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POW-WOW
Posts: 1464 - Karma: 40
Wow. So sad. RIP

The first time I heard of him was of course on his 255 foot cliff drop and I watched it over and over and over in awe. I was amazed by how he landed on his head even though his huge balls should have weighed him down. What a crazy inspiring dude.
Nov 16 2011 11:27PM
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Flik
Posts: 150 - Karma: 229
Read this:
http://http://getungrounded.com/2011/11/ug-op-ed-response-to-jamie-pierres-passing/

First off, RIP Jamie Pierre. He was a great skier and seemed to be a great guy. I saw him skiing at the Bird quite a lot and from the few times I spoke with him, he impressed me with genuineness.

That being said, the above link is a good write up about Jamie's death and the consequences of bad decision making in the backcountry. Even though a beacon/shovel/probe wouldn't have changed the outcome, it goes to show he was not thinking that day when he went up. Even on low danger day you should never ski in the backcountry without proper gear.

As they were hiking up their group set off a large avalanche. There were warning signs all around and he didn't pay attention. He definitely should not have been skiing the terrain that he skied that day. Avalanches do care if you are a legendary skier or not. If you make stupid decisions in the backcountry you will pay for it.

I see threads on here all the time from people that are coming out west on a vacation and want to head to the backcountry. They always ask, "Where should I go?" ;"Can I rent/borrow avy gear?"; "I just want to build a jump in Grizzly Gulch, I don't need a beacon do I?"  I'm blown away that people think they can just go into the backcountry with avy gear and feel safe. First you need to know how to use the gear otherwise the only good a beacon does is helping to excavate the body. You don't only need to know how to use a beacon, you need to know how to use it well. Also, you may be confident using a beacon, but if the guys you go with are not, you will be the one that will die in a slide. You also need to understand  avy prone terrain and avy prone snow. Terrain traps, rollovers, graupel, etc.

Sorry to puke my thoughts, but it needs to be said. The backcountry is much more dangerous than the ski community makes it out to be. Case and point, I was called today to go ski Wolverine Cirque (http://http://www.summitpost.org/wolverine-cirque/263058 ) in the Alta backcountry tomorrow. We are supposed to get 18" or so tonight. I'm not going, It's a stupid idea right now. I told him that, I hope they don't die tomorrow.

Moral of the story, don't be stupid. No one wants you to die. End Rant.

RIP Jamie


Nov 19 2011 1:06AM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
yea today is the perfect day to ski wolverine cirque. a 20 inch base really fills in those 5 foot rocks nicely.
Nov 19 2011 9:36AM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
shallow snowpacks actually produce some of the worst avalanche conditions. (shallow snowpack based off of ground = steep temp gradient = snow crystals metamorphosing to a faceted layer) ie: this is what caused the slide
Nov 19 2011 10:01AM
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infedel_one
Posts: 5140 - Karma: 444
on the avalanche report online it says he was on a snowboard. is this true? if so what da fuk
Nov 19 2011 10:08AM
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ectreeskier11
Posts: 697 - Karma: 366
he was known to snowboard a good bit early in the season.
Nov 19 2011 10:10AM
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,124

been there done that got the coreshots

Click for larger image

hope if i ever pass my "freinds" don't monday morning arm chair qb my death on underground self pimpin google add makin sad mother fuckin shit fore my body is even in the ground.

What a "Friend" i hope you use that google add $$$ to buy a clue or donte to his fam.

services this morn if i could ski i'd make turns for bro but can't so i'll go pay my respects

for a hell of a skier and a solid dude

reguardless of whether he understood snow stability

Nov 19 2011 11:12AM
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belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,274
was this english?
Nov 19 2011 11:20AM
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Benhamine
Posts: 1075 - Karma: 308
50 degree slopes and 20 inch base. Wolvie will be popping off today.. All the shredders will be there.
Nov 19 2011 11:21AM
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*monsterskier*
Posts: 2671 - Karma: 61
damn...RIP
Nov 19 2011 11:29AM
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danbrown
Posts: 11939 - Karma: 21,833
A monday morning armchair quarterback refers to a qb who has a shitty game sunday, then sits around talking about what he couldve done better and what he did wrong. hindsight is always 20/20

He said that if he ever passes (dies), he hopes his so-called friends dont sit around talking about what he did wrong on that corporate advertisement sellout website before his body is even buried.

basically, show some fuckin respect.


Nov 19 2011 11:53AM
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YoungJah
Posts: 1106 - Karma: 66
I'm fully aware of this.
Nov 19 2011 7:57PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
Talked to the Lib Rep who was with him the day before, he was snowboarding when he died
Nov 19 2011 10:29PM
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belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,274
Thank you for that +K

And so forth i agree
Nov 19 2011 10:52PM
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Benhamine
Posts: 1075 - Karma: 308
This..
Nov 20 2011 12:40PM
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