Glissading Accident Horn's Peak (Sangres)

[FireOnTheMountain]

Did they not read the avalanche risk assessment? I may be new but atleast I learn from my mistakes.

As a self professed noob, you should talk less and observe more. Just a thought.

[RobLowe]

One word comes to mind.. lazy

Alright. So when you ripped on the poor guy who lost his legs to frostbite in October/November on Shavano, I was willing to assume it was ignorance that caused you to so rudely make fun of his route-finding.

That’s called Hanlon’s razor: Never assume malice when you can assume incompetence (or ignorance or stupidity). But now, seeing as you are calling this unfortunate and unlucky person lazy, I have to say, you’re just not a good human. Hanlon’s razor is out the door. Stop being so self-absorbed. You have no idea what you’re are talking about. You weren’t there.

+1 to pfiore

[greenonion]

Did they not read the avalanche risk assessment? I may be new but atleast I learn from my mistakes.

As a self professed noob, you should talk less and observe more. Just a thought.

Will do, I’ll see how long I can refrain.

JUST. BE. QUIET. You haven't learned jack based on some of your responses.

[Monster5]

That CAIC report is pretty informative and provides more information than we typically have when speculation occurs on an incident.

While I'm glad the person was rescued and hope they do well, I think they and their group have likely learned some valuable lessons from it, as most of us do with our own mishaps.

[Dan_Suitor]

I found out this morning that I know the individual who was injured. She is a very experienced climber and knows a hell of a lot more about mountain safety than those who have made disparaging comments on this forum. I will not divulge who it, but she is in surgery this morning with a good prognosis.

[12ersRule]

Did they not read the avalanche risk assessment? I may be new but atleast I learn from my mistakes. Best wishes for a full recovery if seriously injured

CaptCo.png (156.99 KiB) Viewed 3364 times

[cottonmountaineering]

I saw this article had some additional photos and info

"According to the Colorado Information Center’s preliminary report, the slide occurred at about 2:45 PM on Saturday after a group of seven hikers left the peak’s northeast ridge to glissade down a snow-filled gully."
https://www.outtherecolorado.com/hiker- ... rado-peak/

Avalanche forecast was considerable with a special avalanche watch notice
Dangerous wet avalanche conditions continue. The snowpack is taking on a lot of heat and natural avalanches are running each day, especially in steep and rocky terrain. To stay safe in the backcountry, start and end your day early. Have a solid escape plan that uses low-angle terrain to get back to the trailhead if the snowpack is wetter and less supportable than you thought it would be. If you intend on recreating in steep terrain, open slopes without rocks and a deep snowpack are safer options than rocky, thin, constricted terrain.

Site
Slope Aspect: SE
Site Elevation: 12400 ft
Slope Angle: 36 °
Slope Characteristic: Gully/Couloir

[Squirrellysquirrel]

That CAIC report is pretty informative and provides more information than we typically have when speculation occurs on an incident.

While I'm glad the person was rescued and hope they do well, I think they and their group have likely learned some valuable lessons from it, as most of us do with our own mishaps.

Agreed. The snow gully (at a glance) did look deceiving, however:

• CAIC issued a red warning for last weekend, well in advance to the incident, and provided a detailed report citing all snow as potentially suspect.
  The unconsolidated snow under wet slab has been a persistent issue this spring on upper slopes (see picture taken early March 2020 in N San Juans as around 12.4k; two hard slab crusts atop 2.5 feet of unconsolidated snow... and we’ve had more snowfall since that time with warming temps). I’ve only seen this snow pack become more and more unstable, and took CAIC’s warning to heart.

I appreciate information on sites like these to help prepare/avoid/modify a climb, also recommend taking an avy course or two to determine snow quality on site. With that said, I’m not immune to making poor judgment calls on occasion when it comes to the remaining element of unpredictable qualities for snow, weather, animal behavior, and terrain. Ironically, it’s the unpredictable element that makes the adventure genuine and not cookie-cuttered.

I agree with Monster that I hope some valuable lessons were learned.

[Eli Boardman]

I never would have guessed something like that would slide, very informative and good to know. It <looks> like the snow was only a few inches deep where it broke. Even when it did break, it's surprising to me that such a benign-looking starting zone could carry someone. I guess all it has to do is knock off your balance.

Anyway, definitely a good heads-up for those of us (particularly myself) who would have probably thought that slope was not a concern (yes I know the angle).

[CheapCigarMan]

Same thing happened on "Lackawanna" last month on the 25th. Same slope angle. Same depth. Only difference is thankfully, the skier that caused it didn't get hurt. When I saw it on my descent I was amazed at how much power and force these slides have. As what seemed to be such a small slide, only a few inches deep. Truly amazing and terrifying to think.
https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/peakstat ... cnum=15851

[supranihilest]

Same thing happened on "Lackawanna" last month on the 25th. Same slope angle. Same depth. Only difference is thankfully, the skier that caused it didn't get hurt.
https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/peakstat ... cnum=15851

There are two commonalities between the report mentioned here, for "Lackawanna", and the accident on Horn:

1. Warm, wet snow avalanches
2. I am in the vicinity

Take from that what you will.

[jmanner]

Did they not read the avalanche risk assessment? I may be new but atleast I learn from my mistakes. Best wishes for a full recovery if seriously injured

Hang on, this guy has to get rescued off of Belford?! He’s now on here taking s**t about a rescue?