BackcountrySkier missing after avalanche near Hut

[Jcwhite]

If you're concerned about SAR finding your body, you might as well just wear RECCO reflectors, not a transceiver. Lighter and cheaper, and searches can be done by helicopter.

Not always true. In fact rarely is this true. Good luck though.

[Jon Frohlich]

i noticed this thread and have a quick question. i'll be out there in may to for a snow climb, i would like to carry a beacon. could someone tell me where i could rent one? i'll be in the denver area.
thanks in advance
dw

Confluence Kayaks. Downtown near REI. I'm sure there are other places too.

[George James]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of the deceased, as well as members of the recovery party and anyone else that may have been affected.

Since you gentlemen are discussing it, I'd like to add something I've heard from time to time that I'm not a big fan of...The thought that in certain locations, safety equipment and sound backcountry travel practices are not necessary, since the terrain is safe and there is no avalanche danger. While this may be true, these thoughts still kinda bug me. I try to treat every time I head out there as another opportunity to brush up on my technique and continue to foster good habits for myself and my companions.

I feel like if you go out there enough thinking that it doesn't matter, eventually that could prove to be your mistake...that you didn't practice and get yourself in a good routine for when it really does matter.

Again, thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of the deceased.

[Dancesatmoonrise]

I don't necessarily subscribe to renting tranceivers - no more than I would rent my boots, skis, snowshoes, pack, or car... WIthout getting into the politics, here is a place you can rent them from.

$25/d for day 1, $5/d after that.

(Should I do this? Does this facilitate people not owning a backcountry tool? No politics, just info....)

Todd Warren
Alpenquest
719-963-1062
greg 481-2331

They also offer general moutaineering training, FWIW.

No affiliation, have not used their services, just passing this info along in the hope that it may be helpful.

[Bean]

Transceivers are expensive. If SAR groups want people to have them, maybe they should loan them out or give them away.

It's not uncommon to have over $1500 worth of gear on your feet alone in the backcountry. A beacon can be had for little more than $200.

[Hacksaw]

Does anyone find that sometimes experience can lead to overconfidence? If I do get into the backcountry in the winter (which I'm hoping to do more of eventually), I don't think I would ever be without a beacon.

Just curious....

I'd say that the opposite is often the case, that experience sometimes makes people overcautious. Experienced people have seen things happen that rarely happen, and thereby give the unlikely too much consideration. This is probably a good thing.

As for being without a beacon, this may just be a personal choice having little to do with experience or the lack thereof. I never had one. Never had a cell phone or GPS, either, as they didn't exist back then. When I went solo on Denali the guy who flew me onto the Kahiltna Glacier wanted me to take a radio. I didn't want one and didn't take it. I figured that the only reason I'd need it would be if I fell into a crevasse, in which case I'd be dead and it wouldn't do me any good. I figured that it'd just be added weight to have to lug with me. Actually, the risk of being alone & out of contact added to the appeal of the mountain experience for me, in Alaska & elsewhere. I never expected to be rescued and didn't really want to be, if I got in trouble. Reliance on gadgetry & on others cheapens the experience, to my mind. Not everyone feels this way & to each his or her own. For those who choose to rely on themselves to the exclusion of gadgets & rescue, they'd better be prepared to accept the consequences if something goes wrong. The consequences may be death but I never expected to live forever, regardless of what I did or didn't do. There are worse ways & places to die than mountaineering accidents.

Interesting comments.

How does your family/exstended circle of friends/climbing-ski partners feel about your views?

Do you ever leave a note on your car telling S&R not to endanger themself's looking for you?

Maybe you should...

[Kevin8020]

I don't necessarily subscribe to renting tranceivers - no more than I would rent my boots, skis, snowshoes, pack, or car... WIthout getting into the politics, here is a place you can rent them from.

$25/d for day 1, $5/d after that.

(Should I do this? Does this facilitate people not owning a backcountry tool? No politics, just info....)

Todd Warren
Alpenquest
719-963-1062
greg 481-2331

Bent Gate rents beacons also, and for a bit cheaper than they do - it's just a bit out of the way to get to unless your plans are on I-70.

[tenpins]

Do you ever leave a note on your car telling S&R not to endanger themself's looking for you?

Maybe you should...

nah, that wouldnt stop us necessarily.

[Jcwhite]

Do you ever leave a note on your car telling S&R not to endanger themself's looking for you?

Maybe you should...

nah, that wouldnt stop us necessarily.

Yes true.

[Bean]

.

[Carl]

I tend to avoid clusterf*cks in the out-of-doors. I go out to get away from people, not to be surrounded by them. Especially not by those who seek security in gadgetry & in numbers, or to display all the stuff they can afford.

I think it's clear why you choose to travel in the backcountry alone Joe.

[llamaman]

For some reason that picture of the offending slide (this one: http://avalanche.state.co.us/acc/acc_im ... G_0077.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) really scares me. I'm new to this stuff, self-educating for now and generally staying away from avy zones. That slope doesn't look too steep to me, but the report does say it's 35-40 degrees. But just looking at the picture, I wouldn't think that slope was much of a risk for a slide. Shows you what I know.

Anyway, my condolences to the family. This sort of thing is very sad.