I'm an avoid back country snowboarder (split boarder) in the Canadian Rockies, and now further north into Coastal Alaska and I've spent many seasons as ski patrol, and taken numerous Avalanche training courses.
After my first 4 day course, the message was very clear:
"You are now the least knowledgeable people that should be in the back country".
I kept thinking "I know just enough to know I know nothing".
Reading this article it was very hard not to angry. Severe lack of training and practice caused deaths.
* 16 people is a huge no-no.
* The fact that someone in the group (a Liftie!) didn't even have a beacon should be a HUGE warning sign.
* Hitting the slope at 11:45 seems wrong to me - the day had warmed by then allowing the snow to consolidate.
* No clear route identification or plan
* The didn't dig a snow pit to assess avalanche conditions on the slope they were about to hit - my personal number 1
* Multiple people dropped in at once - the biggest no-no of all!
* They saw evidence of big slides on the way down, but kept going anyway!
* Waiting for those above by just standing around waiting in the potential slide path.
* Calling 911 immediately shows a lack of experience and understanding. Those buried have ~13 minutes before their chances of survival drop to essentially zero - help is not coming to save them. YOU MUST SAVE THEM.
* Calling 911 to report a body is a freaking waste of time and could cost others' buried their lives. KEEP SEARCHING AND DIGGING!
I hate to say it: They were asking for it, and a lot of them knew better.
Please, please, please, never go into the back country without training. Even a weekend course will be great. Don't let your friends or those more experienced than you convince you it's not needed - anyone that says that is not worth going with, because you are risking your life with people that don't know what they're talking about.
EDIT: If you want the first-person avalanche experience, watch this video. I go snowboarding here all the time. Turn the sound way up to really feel it. This person was saved by well trained back country ski partners. http://vimeo.com/6581009
After my first 4 day course, the message was very clear:
"You are now the least knowledgeable people that should be in the back country".
I kept thinking "I know just enough to know I know nothing".
Reading this article it was very hard not to angry. Severe lack of training and practice caused deaths.
* 16 people is a huge no-no.
* The fact that someone in the group (a Liftie!) didn't even have a beacon should be a HUGE warning sign.
* Hitting the slope at 11:45 seems wrong to me - the day had warmed by then allowing the snow to consolidate.
* No clear route identification or plan
* The didn't dig a snow pit to assess avalanche conditions on the slope they were about to hit - my personal number 1
* Multiple people dropped in at once - the biggest no-no of all!
* They saw evidence of big slides on the way down, but kept going anyway!
* Waiting for those above by just standing around waiting in the potential slide path.
* Calling 911 immediately shows a lack of experience and understanding. Those buried have ~13 minutes before their chances of survival drop to essentially zero - help is not coming to save them. YOU MUST SAVE THEM.
* Calling 911 to report a body is a freaking waste of time and could cost others' buried their lives. KEEP SEARCHING AND DIGGING!
I hate to say it: They were asking for it, and a lot of them knew better.
Please, please, please, never go into the back country without training. Even a weekend course will be great. Don't let your friends or those more experienced than you convince you it's not needed - anyone that says that is not worth going with, because you are risking your life with people that don't know what they're talking about.
EDIT: If you want the first-person avalanche experience, watch this video. I go snowboarding here all the time. Turn the sound way up to really feel it. This person was saved by well trained back country ski partners. http://vimeo.com/6581009