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Taos Avalanche

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cyphers
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 18,285
https://www.taosnews.com/stories/avalanche-buries-multiple-people-on-kachina-peak,54548

Two people dug out (no word on their condition), one still missing.
Jan 17 2019 3:54PM
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Monsieur_Patate
Posts: 1393 - Karma: 4,304
That fucking sucks, hope everyone is ok.

I always carry my avy gear when there's fresh powder, even inbound, shit is scary af.
Jan 17 2019 4:05PM
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tsingtaofanatic
Posts: 3344 - Karma: 4,585
Avalanches suck, but that's how the mountain works.
Jan 17 2019 4:35PM
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SuspiciousFish
Posts: 2781 - Karma: 16,810
Prayers to those involved, I hate reading this. I knew some guys at CU that were doing some backcountry skiing with a buddy and they all got hit by an avalanche. Their buddy got swept off a cliff and died before they could reach him. They both had Volkl Gotamas and each lost a ski and they each keep their remaining single as something of a memorial. Backcountry is no joke and always make sure to have knowledge of the conditons and Beacon/shovel/probe if going out.

Edit- I just read this was an inbounds slide. Very sad all around, we trust the patrollers to do their best and they do but nature is always unpredictable and the risk is always inherent to what we do.

**This post was edited on Jan 17th 2019 at 4:43:22pm
Jan 17 2019 4:41PM
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cyphers
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 18,285
Sounds like the two rescued so far have survived
Jan 17 2019 5:00PM
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methscratchface
Posts: 1204 - Karma: 4,445
satanworshipperAvalanches suck, but that's how the mountain works.

Ya but this is is different. This is lift served terrain that had been bombed to shit. Its fluky.
Jan 17 2019 8:30PM
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cyphers
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 18,285
No third victim apparently, but the two rescued are in pretty bad shape
Jan 17 2019 8:45PM
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cyphers
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 18,285
One of the two rescued has died. He was on a family trip with his dad :(
Jan 18 2019 3:01PM
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Denseclouds
Posts: 506 - Karma: 2,974
This should hit home to any skier who enjoys skiing in bounds and especially BC. Prayers to his family and loved ones. Rip it up in peace brother
Jan 19 2019 2:57AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51642 - Karma: 162,200
satanworshipperAvalanches suck, but that's how the mountain works.


Wasn't it an in bounds avalanche? That's kind of dickish in any regards but if it was inbounds Jesus.
Jan 19 2019 5:15AM
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tsingtaofanatic
Posts: 3344 - Karma: 4,585
theabortionatorWasn't it an in bounds avalanche? That's kind of dickish in any regards but if it was inbounds Jesus.


Sorry if I came off dickish, was not my intention.
Jan 19 2019 7:13AM
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AbiH
Posts: 2041 - Karma: 10,350
Talked to a patroller yesterday, they said it took an hour to get them out. They even bombed kachina that morning. Just opened that lift the day before, pretty surprised that no one else was hurt normally a pretty populated area...
Jan 19 2019 11:19PM
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DesertStix
Posts: 2540 - Karma: 14,980
AbiHTalked to a patroller yesterday, they said it took an hour to get them out. They even bombed kachina that morning. Just opened that lift the day before, pretty surprised that no one else was hurt normally a pretty populated area...


Their IG was bragging about opening Kachina just recently and then this happens. Oof such a tragedy :(
Jan 20 2019 1:07AM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37386 - Karma: 120,063
RIP to the guy who was killed and hope the survivors recover strong. There's really only so much patrol can do when resorts are getting absolutely pounded with snow and its coupled with the 2nd most insane period of resort traffic besides xmas/the holidays. I get kinda annoyed when people shit on patrol for taking to long to do control work and open up the goods for us but damn, on a weekend like this, I can't blame them. Snowbird had multiple slides that buried (all okay) a few patrolers doing routes, Alta had a really bad one slide down to the ground almost, and more snow is on the way. They work really hard to make sure things are good to go so I don't really get behind patrol hate. Its kind of a snobby-ass attitude to have.
Jan 20 2019 3:32AM
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TheDoughAbides
Posts: 1319 - Karma: 4,036
DeebieSkeebiesThere's really only so much patrol can do when resorts are getting absolutely pounded with snow and its coupled with the 2nd most insane period of resort traffic besides xmas/the holidays. I get kinda annoyed when people shit on patrol for taking to long to do control work and open up the goods for us but damn, on a weekend like this, I can't blame them.


One of my friends patrols pc. They already had multiple injuries before the resort opened on Saturday! Can only imagine how stretched these crews get on a weekend like this, props to any ski patrollers reading this! You guys are awesome!
Jan 20 2019 6:30AM
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DesertStix
Posts: 2540 - Karma: 14,980
DeebieSkeebiesRIP to the guy who was killed and hope the survivors recover strong. There's really only so much patrol can do when resorts are getting absolutely pounded with snow and its coupled with the 2nd most insane period of resort traffic besides xmas/the holidays. I get kinda annoyed when people shit on patrol for taking to long to do control work and open up the goods for us but damn, on a weekend like this, I can't blame them. Snowbird had multiple slides that buried (all okay) a few patrolers doing routes, Alta had a really bad one slide down to the ground almost, and more snow is on the way. They work really hard to make sure things are good to go so I don't really get behind patrol hate. Its kind of a snobby-ass attitude to have.


Hope you don’t think I was talking down on patrol. Those guys are beyond helpful imo
Jan 20 2019 11:32AM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37386 - Karma: 120,063
TheDoughAbidesOne of my friends patrols pc. They already had multiple injuries before the resort opened on Saturday! Can only imagine how stretched these crews get on a weekend like this, props to any ski patrollers reading this! You guys are awesome!


I feel for the guys and gals who patrol on The Canyons side of PC. They have BC gates right at the top of two chairs and goombas go through there all the time without any gear. Its slid before beyond the gates of like Peak 5 and its killed people too before so thats gotta be stressful to see people trek beyond there that really shouldnt be skiing that chair to begin with. Its pretty mellow terrain in-bounds but some shit off of 9990 is so easy to poach that the ropes never make a difference at all.
Jan 21 2019 2:03AM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37386 - Karma: 120,063
DesertStixHope you don’t think I was talking down on patrol. Those guys are beyond helpful imo


Nah you're good dude. I think you just phrased it in a weird way, but I understood you. Youre pretty right about how the mountains dont give a shit who you are. They can only take so much and when you have so many people on a weekend like this thirsty for the goods, somethings bound to happen.
Jan 21 2019 2:04AM
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AbiH
Posts: 2041 - Karma: 10,350
Both of the victims died.
Jan 22 2019 11:44AM
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JoeF2661
Posts: 1627 - Karma: 6,299
AbiHBoth of the victims died.

Seems like Everytime I go onto smowbrains or unofficial networks they are always reporting a new avy death. Tragedies
Jan 22 2019 2:51PM
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iambusyskiing
Posts: 273 - Karma: 4,002
JoeF2661Seems like Everytime I go onto smowbrains or unofficial networks they are always reporting a new avy death. Tragedies

I've noticed that too. It seems like Unofficial really focuses in on deaths because it gets the most views, shares and comments but maybe I'm just cynical
Jan 22 2019 4:19PM
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CLQ
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 11,260
emrenI've noticed that too. It seems like Unofficial really focuses in on deaths because it gets the most views, shares and comments but maybe I'm just cynical


Its good that they seem to publish every death, they are showing the dangers of backcountry skiing.
Jan 22 2019 5:09PM
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WoFIowz
Posts: 9788 - Karma: 72,405
AbiHBoth of the victims died.


Yeah coulda guessed that cuz the article originally said both got cpr; were buried for almost an hour so likely brain dead even if got a pulse back. Very sad.

These stories scare the shit out of me and are a solemn reminder that in an instant everything can quickly go from amazingly fun to very bad. Skiing is still safer than the commute to the mountain so while it's good to be cautious and have awareness, dont let these events keep you from shredding out there.
Jan 23 2019 1:24AM
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iambusyskiing
Posts: 273 - Karma: 4,002
CLQIts good that they seem to publish every death, they are showing the dangers of backcountry skiing.


Yeah, I mean.. They’re publishing under-researched and incomplete articles a lot of the times.... kinda makes me bummed out that they have a real opportunity to explain the dangers of certain types of snowpacks but they don’t.

The Taos avalanche was inbounds in non-closed terrain which is why that whole story is really scary.

Unofficial does needs clicks to get paid so they often seek out news stories on snow related deaths. (But posts on Lindsey von and skier/snowboard beef also get a lot of views so there’s that too 🤷🏼‍♀️)
Jan 23 2019 9:03PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37386 - Karma: 120,063
I stopped reading unofficial/snowbrains, but they have a business to run.


If you folks always want accurate info from the source, get into the habit of reading slide activity reports, observations, fatalities, etc. Its good stuff to know
Jan 23 2019 10:05PM
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4802 - Karma: -658
DeebieSkeebiesRIP to the guy who was killed and hope the survivors recover strong. There's really only so much patrol can do when resorts are getting absolutely pounded with snow and its coupled with the 2nd most insane period of resort traffic besides xmas/the holidays. I get kinda annoyed when people shit on patrol for taking to long to do control work and open up the goods for us but damn, on a weekend like this, I can't blame them. Snowbird had multiple slides that buried (all okay) a few patrolers doing routes, Alta had a really bad one slide down to the ground almost, and more snow is on the way. They work really hard to make sure things are good to go so I don't really get behind patrol hate. Its kind of a snobby-ass attitude to have.


Totally agree when it’s deep.

Avy contril when there is sub 6 inches of new snow is different though and we should all question it.
Jan 23 2019 10:46PM
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