Tree well suffocation death at Stevens on Sunday - Snowboarding Forum

DrnknZag · 01-24-2012, 11:29 AM

NWAC mentioned this on their last avy forecast, but I hadn't heard anything at all about it. Nothing in the news or anything. Anyone else heard about this?

**killclimbz** · 01-24-2012, 11:42 AM

Ugh! At Stevens Pass. It better not be Ale. It doesn't really say if it was the resort or the surrounding backcountry. That is a whole different animal you deal with in the PNW. Just as scary as our crappy snow pack. +++Vibes for the family and friends.

DrnknZag · 01-24-2012, 11:53 AM

^^I'm really not surprised, I did a bit of hiking on Saturday at Stevens not far out of bounds and got kinda sketched out by some of the snow in the trees. Definitely some serious tree wells out there. I got caught waist deep in a smaller well between two trees. Heavy, deep pow.

Definitely vibes to whoever it was. I'm really surprised there hasn't been anything reported though. Stay safe out there folks.

hikeswithdogs · 01-24-2012, 11:55 AM

This is where an avalung could for sure save your life or at least extend it by several hours giving rescuers\partners time to find you.....if you also had a beacon of course.

What is the snow like in a tree well(is it cement or light powdery?) could you possibly use a cell phone if you had to time to create an air pocket?

Scary glad we don't have many tree wells in Utah

DrnknZag · 01-24-2012, 12:09 PM

^^It was like quicksand on Saturday up there. Powdery, but really heavy snow that you just sink in. I've got an Avalung and take it out whenever I plan on venturing OB, and yes it's a decent tool for this application (if you can get it in your mouth).

hikeswithdogs · 01-24-2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrnknZag

^^It was like quicksand on Saturday up there. Powdery, but really heavy snow that you just sink in. I've got an Avalung and take it out whenever I plan on venturing OB, and yes it's a decent tool for this application (if you can get it in your mouth).

Exactly for an avalanche an airbag is unquestionably better but for this scenario an avalung would be a lifesaver, hopefully black diamond comes out with a cheap airbag system with an avalung built in that would be ideal.

mjd · 01-24-2012, 03:13 PM

a ski patroller at whistler got sucked into one head first yesterday. he was able call rescue on his cell but it took them 3 1/2 hours to get there since he couldn't describe to them where he was.

hikeswithdogs · 01-24-2012, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjd

a ski patroller at whistler got sucked into one head first yesterday. he was able call rescue on his cell but it took them 3 1/2 hours to get there since he couldn't describe to them where he was.

He\she was ok I hope?

mjd · 01-24-2012, 03:29 PM

he's good.

The111 · 01-24-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hikeswithdogs

could you possibly use a cell phone if you had to time to create an air pocket?

Yup: Snowboarder trapped in tree well, saved by cell phone | HULIQ

That is assuming a lot of things though, obviously. Cell coverage, timing, available air, you don't drop your phone 3 feet deeper into the snow, etc. Though still a reason I carry an extra cell phone battery in my pocket. ;-)

01-24-2012, 11:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
DrnknZag Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: PNW Posts: 919	Tree well suffocation death at Stevens on Sunday NWAC mentioned this on their last avy forecast, but I hadn't heard anything at all about it. Nothing in the news or anything. Anyone else heard about this?

01-24-2012, 11:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
hikeswithdogs -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Minnesota Summer--Utah Winter Posts: 958 Blog Entries: 1	This is where an avalung could for sure save your life or at least extend it by several hours giving rescuers\partners time to find you.....if you also had a beacon of course. What is the snow like in a tree well(is it cement or light powdery?) could you possibly use a cell phone if you had to time to create an air pocket? Scary glad we don't have many tree wells in Utah __________________ makingfreshtracks.blogspot.com

01-24-2012, 03:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
mjd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: neverbored RI Posts: 374	a ski patroller at whistler got sucked into one head first yesterday. he was able call rescue on his cell but it took them 3 1/2 hours to get there since he couldn't describe to them where he was. __________________ Try this trick and spin it, yeah Your head will collapse

01-24-2012, 03:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
mjd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: neverbored RI Posts: 374	he's good. __________________ Try this trick and spin it, yeah Your head will collapse

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01-24-2012, 11:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,169	Ugh! At Stevens Pass. It better not be Ale. It doesn't really say if it was the resort or the surrounding backcountry. That is a whole different animal you deal with in the PNW. Just as scary as our crappy snow pack. +++Vibes for the family and friends.

01-24-2012, 11:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
DrnknZag Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: PNW Posts: 919	^^I'm really not surprised, I did a bit of hiking on Saturday at Stevens not far out of bounds and got kinda sketched out by some of the snow in the trees. Definitely some serious tree wells out there. I got caught waist deep in a smaller well between two trees. Heavy, deep pow. Definitely vibes to whoever it was. I'm really surprised there hasn't been anything reported though. Stay safe out there folks.

01-24-2012, 12:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
DrnknZag Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: PNW Posts: 919	^^It was like quicksand on Saturday up there. Powdery, but really heavy snow that you just sink in. I've got an Avalung and take it out whenever I plan on venturing OB, and yes it's a decent tool for this application (if you can get it in your mouth).