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Category Archives: Accidents
The White Death: An avalanche disaster from 1954
Sixty years ago, in January 1954, devastating avalanches swept across Austria’s Vorarlberg state. In a 48-hour period 388 avalanches were observed. The aftermath was disastrous; 270 burials resulting in 125 deaths, 55 houses and hundreds of farm buildings were destroyed, … Continue reading
Posted in Accidents, Avalanche Phenomena, Search and Rescue, Weather
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Beinn a’Bhuird – Buried 22 hrs (Scotland, 1964)
Forty-seven years ago today a remarkable story of avalanche survival occurred in Scotland’s Cairngorm mountains. Though the story did not end well for two hikers, one man survived a 22-hour burial. Yes, 22 hours under the snow.
Posted in Accidents, Search and Rescue
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Wet Snow Avalanches And Rescue, Part 1
In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain Spring also means a whole lot of changes for the snow and avalanche conditions, and spring can be … Continue reading
Posted in Accidents, Search and Rescue
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Do You Feel Lucky?
There are several dimensions of luck, and the diametrical differences can perhaps be best contrasted by the timeless words uttered by a fictitious police inspector and a 1st century (and very real) Roman philosopher. Oddly enough, both messages apply to … Continue reading
Posted in Accidents, Decision Making
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Running Out of Luck
By: Doug Chabot, guest writer Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards. —Vernon Sanders Law Tyler Stetson died in an avalanche on January 20th [2008] while skiing with his close friend, Logan King, … Continue reading
The First US Avalanche Death?
Where do you think and when was the first reported avalanche death in the United States (or territories before statehood)?
Posted in Accidents, News
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Black Officer – White Death
Avalanches don’t care about one’s knowledge and skills, or one’s position in life, nor do avalanches care about holiday festivals. A death is usually mourned, but the death of the Black Officer in the Scottish Cairngorms in 1800, was thought … Continue reading
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A Wild Ride (Getting Caught) A Christmas Story
“Philip Fritch boarded a snow slide enroute from the Sneffels district [not far from Ouray and Telluride, Colorado]. He contemplated switching off from the pass as it whizzed by Box Canyon, but having lost his hat, guidepole and most of … Continue reading
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Swiss Off-Piste Accident May Change The Rules
An upcoming criminal trial regarding an off-piste avalanche may change how off-piste skiing in Switzerland is done. Last December, the Christmas holiday season was in full swing at Anzere (a medium-sized ski resort in Valais), and powder snow still blanketed … Continue reading
Posted in Accidents, News
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Hundreds Killed – India Kasmir
We in the west, North American and Europe, think we have bad avalanche problems, but our problems are nothing like the avalanche threats faced by many people central Asia. This weekend hundreds died in India Kasmir.
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