The 39-year-old triggered the avalanche at 2:30 p.m. while snowboarding in the South Chute in Gad Valley. The slide swept Pierre off a cliff, while his partner was uninjured. Pierre likely died from trauma, as the avalanche did not bury him
The Utah Avalanche Center reported the depth of the soft slab was 14 inches to 20 inches and ran 150-feet wide. According to the UAC site, neither Pierre nor his partner carried rescue gear or had formal avalanche training.
I find it hard to believe that Jamie Pierre didn't have any formal avalanche training. He's been filming in the backcountry for years. Pretty sure, due to the guides and others he's been out with, he's at least been through basic avy awareness. Regardless, it looks like a lot of bad decisions by lots of people in Wasatch yesterday. Unfortunately it took the life of one of the more entertaining snow athletes around.
We have a super shitty weaklayer right now and if you don't know avy skills I wouldn't get out in it. They closed Alta yesterday a little early to uphill since there were I think 4 slides inbounds with one resulting in a broken femur. We need a big storm to flush this layer.
Snowbird and Alta are not closed to traffic early and late season, but they HAVE to be treated like BC. There are tons of people stomping around without gear which is silly, but this isn't the thread to talk about that.
This is a tragedy for sure and vibes to his wife and kids.
I've created a thread to discuss early season dangers, decision making, and what ever else. So please leave your condolences here, but let's not douche up this thread with criticisms and words that can be seen as insensitive and hurtful to friends and family who might find this.
Leave that to the thread I created. Be respectful please.
Not at all. It's just time after time we've seen these type of thread devolve over the course. I do think discussion over this incident is warranted, just not here.
Incredibly sad for his family, friends and the snow community. I watched some videos of him, looks like he lived a rad life and was an awesome guy. RIP.
I found this whole thing crazy... there is no way a guy who's been out in the backcountry filming and hucking cliffs for like 15-20 years has no avy experience.
The saddest thing is for ever he was known as a crazy guy who drank and smoked himself into oblivion until getting his life together and cleaning up his act. It's always so tragic when things like this happen after all he went through and survived in his life.
Didn't know him personally, but know people that did. Nothing but good things to say from those who knew him. My kids rode with him at moonlight through their freerire team a few times. He gave them posters and autographs. People around here were excited about having him around this season. Whole community is saddened. Too bad.
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