I know two of the three. The guy burried is a pro photographer.

http://www.stevelloydphoto.com/<ul><li><a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_4661391">be careful out there</a></li></ul>

They kept saying we know better, we had a bad feeling about it &amp; we saw all the warning signs.... but we did it anyways. Recreational darwinism at its best. They got lucky.

I'm glad they are OK and no one was seriously hurt. Especially the guy that is to be a father in a month or so.

but also some of the Canyons most knowledgeable skiers. They are out there 5 days a week all year long. They got greedy and paid.


Here's a note I got this morning:

All,

Many thanks for your thoughts, prayers and +vibes. Also, special thanks to those good friends that called or e-mailed; I got them all and heard them all. Sorry, for not responding to each of you individually .... obviously other things were being taken care of during that time - but they do mean alot.

I don't think any of us involved are ready to respond as we'd like to you yet (and as I'm sure you'd all like for us to), but over the next few days or week one us will try and get something up to share with this community as well as the folks over at TTips and Couloir as many of you are our touring partners, dear friends or just otherwise can hopefully learn from the errors in our judgement.

Thanks again.

too many idiots go backcountry without it.

I guess at this point in my life I'm reducing the risks I take instead of seeking thrills. So when I see people say all the warning signs are there but I did it anyways which put other people in danger (ie rescuers) to save my stupid ass, I tend not to feel sorry for them it the consequences are not favorable. I don't ever wish bad things happen to them, just wish they'd think about their actions and it could affeect more than themselves.

"...which was accomplished only because the touring party had the proper rescue gear and was trained in using it."<ul><li><a href="http://www.avalanche.org/%7Euac/Accidents/Accidents,06-07/AccidentReport,Silverfork,11-14-06.htm">Utah Avalanche Center Accident Report</a></li></ul>

the only thing I can think of off hand is that they chose the faster route vs the safer route. Having already skied the slope it's easy for me to see how I might have made the same decision.

The full report should be out tomorrow with statements from all parties involved. I know that it will be honest and forthright as these friends want only for others to be able to learn from the incident. They are rock solid BC partners, folks I'd trust with my life without hesitation.

If you love skiing beyond the ropes certain risks need to be accepted. For some people this is doable, for others it is not. For me it's a fluid position that varies depending on the situation. I've made some mistakes and luckily walked away, made others that put me in the hospital. I've learned from all of them and hopefully I'm a better partner for it.

However, there are several factors--two in particular--in this situation that are well beyond acceptable. First, the facet layers from the early season snow especially on N aspects. Second, high winds within the storm caused significant loading especially on N aspects. Thus, proper route finding should indicate that N aspects should be avoided. Why the route they traveled was chosen I don't think I will ever understand, but it is easy to be a Monday quarterback.

I could not be more glad that everyone made it out safely and hope that this will continue to open peoples eyes that good techniques are a must. I am glad these guys want people to learn from there mistakes. I think the biggest mistake people make is thinking they know too much about this stuff and over-estimate their abilities to judge the circumstances. Lots of days in the backcountry doesn't make you an expert. It doesn't hurt anyone to review the basics, which is probably the good that will come out of this situation for many of us.

Bad decisions were made, but knowledge and training saved Steve's life. Finding a victim 4 feet down in 7 minutes is not just luck.