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Mt. Washington Avalanche incident/death

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Jamartini
Posts: 408 - Karma: 1,663
https://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/4112019-avalanche-fatality-raymond-cataract/?fbclid=IwAR0f3qbzHyCKsPmQBV8UFzcK-NzJNIRiyQ_UVqjucL-rx2H7jwQodatX2Uk

Unsure if this is a repost but just wanted to drop this here, the incident occurred last Thursday...

One of the best reports i've seen of an avalanche incident and hit me heavier than usual that it could've been any one of us, especially due to the increasing traffic the whites have got this year.

I know this is better suited for AT and Backcountry category but I could care less... some really important lessons to be learned:

Avalanche terrain or not, be observant, look out for everyone, and ski with your friends.

Hoping to pass it alone so we can learn and make the best decisions possible!

ski in peace Nicholas

**This thread was edited on Apr 15th 2019 at 5:10:18pm
Apr 15 2019 5:09PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9357 - Karma: 61,430
great post. terrible and sad news but a learning opportunity
Apr 15 2019 5:23PM
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Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2394 - Karma: -12,160
Super sad news and you're totally right about it happening to anyone. Avalanches aren't something you really think about on the east coast. In hindsight though I guess it would make sense that a place with such strong winds would be susceptible to wind loading... stay safe out there guys

**This post was edited on Apr 15th 2019 at 5:27:28pm
Apr 15 2019 5:27PM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12526 - Karma: 116,473
Absolutely brutal. puts into perspective how hard an avalanche hits. I assume the probe strike was around 2:18 and even though he was only 1.2m down, it took a full 15-20 mins to dig him out. It really shows the energy you have to commit just to dig that deep.


Anyone else have sites that do similar analyses piece on accidents?

**This post was edited on Apr 15th 2019 at 5:51:36pm
Apr 15 2019 5:42PM
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.Morton
Posts: 440 - Karma: 1,426
Really scary especially coming from the east (which so many people consider safe). Shows that avalanche gear means nothing without a partner and the backcountry, no matter where, can be unforgiving.
SIP
Apr 15 2019 6:02PM
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,753
These things are just awful and so sad
Really hits ya even not knowing him and I’m from the east this isn’t common
Honesty this may have saved my life , tuckermans on my bucket list and I ski alone ( no friends that ski , lift liners like to mean mug me ) , I’ve got no avy training knowledge and wouldn’t have really considered it over here til now , terrifying
SIP
Apr 15 2019 7:10PM
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aguo5520
Posts: 61 - Karma: 225
Damn, feels like I just watched a super sad drama after reading that.
I really appreciate that the post was super detailed. It will be great learning for others.
Shred in peace.
Apr 15 2019 7:16PM
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Shred-Sausage
Posts: 33 - Karma: 87
Was in tuckermans or was it another place on the mountain?
Apr 15 2019 8:49PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51834 - Karma: 164,633
Somebody on TGR's facebook the other day was trying to arguing that he died from injuries and having a partner or equipment wouldn't have been useful. Dude was still breathing hours later or whatever. No guarantee but might have been okay if he had gotten out a few minutes. Having a partner and gear is important even on the east coast. Not as dangerous as CO has been but still shows that things can happen even on the east.

Be safe out there this spring!
Apr 16 2019 12:20AM
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Jamartini
Posts: 408 - Karma: 1,663
The referenced post has been removed.


Thank you for this, huge takeaway to be observant, from personal experience the Huntington ravine fire road, which would be the closest ski/skin trail to the burial site is a relatively easy and flat skin. Very frustrating to think about how someone could've been there in such little time if it had crossed someones mind as soon as they saw a crown. I had a friend who was there on that day and even had a clear vantage point (it was a bluebird day) of Raymond cataract and didn't notice a thing until he skied down and a helicopter was at Pinkham Notch.

More the reason to report what you see and submit it as an observation to determine if it's a past or new slide, although it may be time consuming, it can save a life https://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/submit-your-observations/

The guy absolutely shredded too


Apr 16 2019 8:07AM
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GrandThings
Posts: 3172 - Karma: 32,012
theabortionatorSomebody on TGR's facebook the other day was trying to arguing that he died from injuries and having a partner or equipment wouldn't have been useful. Dude was still breathing hours later or whatever. No guarantee but might have been okay if he had gotten out a few minutes. Having a partner and gear is important even on the east coast. Not as dangerous as CO has been but still shows that things can happen even on the east.

Be safe out there this spring!


Yeah I believe I saw another article that said he actually died of cardiac arrest and he was indeed still breathing when they recovered him.

I'm not familiar with avalanches/backcountry at all. Would this have been some triggered by the avalanche, does that happen? I'm assuming this is the case but dont really see the correlation between the two. Just super high blood pressure after all the stress and burial maybe?
Apr 16 2019 9:22AM
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dogfacematt
Posts: 327 - Karma: 6,475
Went to Mt.Washington in April last year and had just got to the Hermit Lake shelter when we saw an avalanche clean out like 5 people on their way up. That place is wild, man
Apr 16 2019 9:41AM
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.frenchy
Posts: 18231 - Karma: 12,390
Yup, heard about this the day it happened. Mt. Washington is a beast and no matter how good of a skier you are, you always gotta ski with a buddy IMO.

Ski in peace brother
Apr 16 2019 11:07AM
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SidehitsJesus
Posts: 677 - Karma: 2,650
It’s a fantastic write up for a devastating story. They do great things at the MWAC. SIP
Apr 16 2019 12:09PM
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SuspiciousFish
Posts: 2781 - Karma: 16,814
TRVP_ANGELAbsolutely brutal. puts into perspective how hard an avalanche hits. I assume the probe strike was around 2:18 and even though he was only 1.2m down, it took a full 15-20 mins to dig him out. It really shows the energy you have to commit just to dig that deep.


Anyone else have sites that do similar analyses piece on accidents?

**This post was edited on Apr 15th 2019 at 5:51:36pm


One of the things that make avalanches so dangerous is when the snow slides it warms up and creates a slush then when the slide stops it freezes again so you are basically digging through crusty ice instead of soft powder.
Apr 16 2019 12:25PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9329 - Karma: 17,818
SavageBiffThese things are just awful and so sad
Really hits ya even not knowing him and I’m from the east this isn’t common
Honesty this may have saved my life , tuckermans on my bucket list and I ski alone ( no friends that ski , lift liners like to mean mug me ) , I’ve got no avy training knowledge and wouldn’t have really considered it over here til now , terrifying
SIP


Seriously dude, I use to watch STE videos of guys ripping there and not even think an avy could happen, let alone knew what a beacon or probe was, all I'd bring is a backpack with my avy shovel and a lot if food and water. I'm out in utah now and have already seen what I thought were small slides, that could easily make someone struggle to get out of. Slowly getting my gear and learning just online but an avy course helps a lot I imagine, next year I plan to tour a few times but I'm not doing it alone ever.


Really is sad though, just dont expect it in NH really but it can happen, just like in the park, make sure the guy who dropped before you gets down and out of the way safely, even if you dont know them, sounds like this guy couldve beem easily saved, but my God that's a devastating avy path, looks like it would've gone had a snowball been thrown at the ridge.

Ski in peace
Apr 16 2019 5:17PM
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DorianF
Posts: 241 - Karma: 879
A few lessons to be learned from this:
- always have a buddy there - he may have survived if he had been dug out sooner and his body didn't go into hypothermia
- always beware of convex curves and dont ski through the center of them
- dont ski above terrain traps

The situation is tragic, but definitely could have been avoided - all of the above lessons are straight from AST 101.
Apr 16 2019 5:31PM
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hootsquad
Posts: 272 - Karma: 1,350
GrandThingsYeah I believe I saw another article that said he actually died of cardiac arrest and he was indeed still breathing when they recovered him.

I'm not familiar with avalanches/backcountry at all. Would this have been some triggered by the avalanche, does that happen? I'm assuming this is the case but dont really see the correlation between the two. Just super high blood pressure after all the stress and burial maybe?


not exactly sure but the article said it could be related to the body's reaction to intense cooling and then warming after being dug out
Apr 17 2019 12:01PM
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