First Avy Death of the Season?

http://www.powder.com/stories/news/montana-peak-claims-first-avalanche-fatality-season/

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**This post was edited on Oct 10th 2017 at 5:25:34pm

Just awful, what a harsh reminder of the dangers lurking out there that can ensnare even the most experienced and skilled backcountry travelers. Condolences to those involved and affected by this tragic sequence of events.

After last year's uncommonly stable snowpack, it'll be really important to go through all the mental checklists and carefully evaluate the conditions no matter what you expect to find. Stay safe out there everyone, hoping we don't see ANY more stories like this over the course of the winter.

Big hit here in Bozeman, I'd say everyone in our community is a little shaken up, especially since the season started so strong a few weeks ago. Even tougher seeing how they were both experienced backcountry skiers.

Condolences to the family and friends.

The one thing that bothers me about this is comes from other kids I've talked to who have been skiing already this season. I've heard the ignorant quote "ahh there's no way it'll slide it's only a little bit of snow". Obviously not saying that's what these guys were thinking, but just always understanding that the danger is real.

Such a sad story all around and such experienced people. Will be interesting to see the final report from mtavalance, sounds like they were way downhill from the slab that let go.

Guilty until proven innocent.

@theinertiamtn

The person who passed away was a well known climber and her boyfriend who survived the avalanche killed himself :(

RIP to both, so so sad

Look out for each other out there

**This post was edited on Oct 10th 2017 at 9:13:14pm

chris.goodhueThe one thing that bothers me about this is comes from other kids I've talked to who have been skiing already this season. I've heard the ignorant quote "ahh there's no way it'll slide it's only a little bit of snow". Obviously not saying that's what these guys were thinking, but just always understanding that the danger is real.

When I got my avy 1, I said that snow couldn't slide when there is not a lot, the instructor got fuckin pissed

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Hard to say for sure. In a community like Bozeman, people are always shooting for the sky; the amount of closet badasses who don't really do it for the exposure but will be sending it 10 times harder than you is surreal. Objectives like that are more or less the norm amongst that advanced ski-mountaineering community. Whether it's for bragging rights, or the pursuit of personal happiness, I have still yet to figure out. Also goes to show how a remote trigger is equally as, if not more dangerous as setting off a slope via skiing.

Bottom line, get educated. Anyone who's interested (located in BZN) can shoot me a PM about avalanche programs put on by Montana State University.

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LampardHard to say for sure. In a community like Bozeman, people are always shooting for the sky; the amount of closet badasses who don't really do it for the exposure but will be sending it 10 times harder than you is surreal. Objectives like that are more or less the norm amongst that advanced ski-mountaineering community. Whether it's for bragging rights, or the pursuit of personal happiness, I have still yet to figure out. Also goes to show how a remote trigger is equally as, if not more dangerous as setting off a slope via skiing.

Bottom line, get educated. Anyone who's interested (located in BZN) can shoot me a PM about avalanche programs put on by Montana State University.

Specific backcountry objectives come into condition through a variety of factors through different times of the year. Who's to say why they picked that line right now, but if it's north facing, high, and wind loaded, that means it's probably in better shape in terms of actually having snow than the sharks surrounding it. Obviously, there were some problems with the snowpack.

The pit photo is interesting. It can be easy to assume that the scoured, seemingly nuke-proof windslab you're skinning up has locked up the potential for things to move. Travel tests don't work super well when a slab is that thick.

It's such a shame: if you read the report, you'll note that she had a beacon in her pack that wasn't turned on. There's no time that's too early to practice good avie travel habits. It continues to tear me up that this whole thing could have been just a close call and nothing more.

It's a huge loss for families, friends, Bozeman, and the mountain community more broadly. Much love to those close to Inge and Hayden.

Video showing the slide path
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/878424/Imp-Peak-Avalanche-Fatality---9-October-2017Official Accident Report

http://www.mtavalanche.com/sites/default/files/Imp%20Peak%20Avalanche%20Report_PUBLIC.pdf

Incredibly sad, the whole vibe here in Bozeman is very shook from the whole situation.