Comments on: First person Avalanche Footage from a GoPro

By: Rider

Rider — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:12:07 +0000

Also curiously, where is this? what was the ave danger? How big was the slab or was it just sluff?

By: Rider

Rider — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:08:49 +0000

Couple comments, I also have been buried before and I can vouch that people are quick to judge that if you have been buried you were being a dumbass/you havnt taken ave courses/you are reckless/don’t know what you are doing etc. Often a buriel stems from a mistake sure, but its a mountain environment so its very hard to judge and different people are willing to take different risks. Realistically if you ride in the backcountry you are rolling the dice each time you go out. That being said props on posting a video that shows the mistakes you made, let people learn from this and let it be a realistic description. Avalanches are terrifying the claustrophobia, pressure, cementing of the snow, and the slow decrease of oxygen. I have sometimes found that people in the backcountry just call people dumbasses instead of giving advice. Lets drop the “everybody’s a dumbass” outlook and offer advice. Comments from the video – you are obviously in ave terrain and the skiers are in the path of an ave based on your line, it seems like you also don’t have any thought about sluff control and don’t look uphill even when you stop- nor did the skiers seem to notice the slide. Glad to see everybody made it out safely! You can see how bad that could have been if it were just a little bit bigger and buried all three of you.

By: pacNW

pacNW — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:21:02 +0000

I’d also like to thank Herb for his professional insight.

By: pacNW

pacNW — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:17:52 +0000

Got my Avy 1 through AAI bellingham WA, I was being led by my friends who were the skiers, we decided to all hit that cliff ban and wait up at the bottom, we could have chosen a better place to stop, possibly more to the riders left since the terrain sorta sloped to the right to avoid a small terrain trap. And by the time i got back to help my buddies he was pretty much all the way out. SO answer me this.. How in the world is any of this my fault? It’s not. Clearly you guys don’t understand what exactly is happening so all you can do is make assumptions which looks idiotic to all of us who were involved.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:41:21 +0000

Glad everyone is ok after that. The last thing on an honarable persons mind after that would be making comments to a camera. Unbelievable that you did that and then posted it. It shows your real character for all to see. I hope you learn from all of this.

By: Vman

Vman — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:29:30 +0000

pacNW, wow i wonder if you have any avi gear? Clearly you’re the sharpest tool in the shed. You’re lucky the other guys didn’t kick your ass for triggering that above them…although if they were traveling in avi terrain they should have been traveling a little better (they were pretty close for that aspect) but it’s really hard to tell from the camera what all is going on. You need to be more careful and respect your surroundings i can’t believe you had the balls to continue filming while the other guy is getting dug out…AIARE Level 2 certificate located in Bellingham Wa not an internet troll

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:22:23 +0000

Matt, a lot of people who make their living in the outdoor industry read this page on a daily basis. In case you didn’t the headline, it read, ‘near catastrophe.’ Bottom line: you put other people on the mountain into a potentially lethal situation and then posted a video to brag about it. I hope you realize why that pisses people off, and take the opportunity to tighten your s–t up. Starting with the nearest avy class.

By: herb

herb — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:44:40 +0000

Yes pacNW. I am actually a pro skier… thanks for making yourself look even dumber by “calling me out.” Ha!

By: pacNW

pacNW — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 06:11:58 +0000

Your comments are perfect examples of people who make DUMB ass assumptions. Obviously you weren’t there, don’t know me or my buddies who I was with, what we know, have experienced, etc. Shit just happens, Pete and herb. I’m sure your both f’in pros.

By: chad

chad — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 06:09:23 +0000

Its people like you who purchase these cameras. idiots who nearly kill people because they are too focused on themselves to notice their surroundings. just becasue loads of people hike the near country at baker doenst mean you should.