Sara: Three Friends, Fresh Snow and an Avalanche
Look, if you had one shot, one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted—One moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
—Eminem, “Lose Yourself”
Mistakes are made. Everything starts innocently enough: two women, two dogs and me. Another day skiing in the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. Nine inches of new snow, or so the avalanche report said, with more falling as we head up toward Serpentine, an infrequently skied couloir on the west side of Red Mountain 2. The avalanche forecast:
Near and above treeline on NE to SE to S aspects the danger is CONSIDERABLE with pockets of HIGH. On other aspects and below treeline the danger is MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE.
Well, we’ll be skiing below tree line, on the west side, so . . . .
I’ve climbed for 40 years, and skied for longer; I began skiing in the backcountry in the late 1970s. Several years ago, after a long hiatus, I started backcountry skiing again. At the urging of my partners, I completed a Level I avalanche course. During the winter, I receive daily avalanche bulletins from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center by email, and read them religiously; I discuss snow conditions and backcountry ski protocol with friends and guides during the ski season. After being involved in an avalanche earlier this winter, I refreshed my rescue skills by practicing beacon searches and using my avalanche probe. In 1979, my 21-year-old brother was killed by an avalanche while approaching a winter climb on Mount Kitchener in the Canadian Rockies. I fancy myself skilled, knowledgeable and avalanche-averse.
On March 21, 2005, there are signs; there always are. I read them and put them into the equation, but fail to come up with the correct answer.
This story of part of The Vault, a compendium of over 2,000 articles on rockandice.com and is available to members only. Please join us with a membership to continue reading. If you are already a member, click here and enjoy.
The post Sara: Three Friends, Fresh Snow and an Avalanche appeared first on Climbing.