Massive Jackson Avalanche Kicks Off Cloud of Debate
By Steve Casimiro, Adventure Journal on January 27th, 2012
A massive avalanche struck Taylor Mountain on Teton Pass near Jackson Hole this week after a backcountry skier ski-cut the slope, triggering a slide that covered the Coal Creek drainage for 500 yards with debris up to 30 feet deep. No one was caught in the slide, either on Taylor or in Coal Creek, a major exit for skiers coming off Mt. Glory and adjacent slopes. The outcome could have been far worse, given the huge amount of backcountry traffic on the pass, and the incident set of a “blogalanche” of fiery debate at Teton AT over the skier’s action, responsibility, and liability. There’s a predictable amount of self-righteousness in the comments, but also a lot of excellent points wrestling for definitive answers to questions that might not have them. If you care about snow and avie safety, you should give it a read. You’ll get a fair dose of the mosh pit that is the Jackson backcountry community, too. Via Teton AT.
