Heading out today on my European journey for the winter. Brutal schedule. Saves about $600 on the fare but involves things like a 10 hour layover and being on the plane to bring in the New Year. Oh well, the sacrifices we bloggers make to bring you the goods… Hopefully the Tyrolean beer will make up for it.
As blog fodder, check out our sad tale of local avy mayhem:
Our area leads country in fatal avalanches. List of fatal avalanches in Pitkin Country (Aspen area), Colorado
Above linked list includes things like what might be the smallest avalanche to kill a person, and an interesting preponderance of deadly slides in March. Another thing that struck me was the number of ski patrollers and guides on the list. The compilation misses listing a few accidents, but is still sobering. A few were friends or acquaintances and that’s had a big influence on my own attitudes. Definitely sad to read (especially when you know the tragic backstory behind those deaths that were easily preventable), but probably something to review once a year.
If anyone has personal knowledge of any accidents on the list, feel free to comment with your feelings, analysis, or details about what really happened.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
