Avalanche

[DMC_Hunter]

Here's the Avi forecast from 7am that day.
I'm not saying this is how people should've done something - I'm just saying this is how I approach back country riding. Take it or leave it. I do always wear a transceiver inbounds(on at the car and off at the bar) and shovel/probe in side country. I always do transceiver checks - multiple times a day depending.

I'd check from the experts:
This forecast would make me cautious and probably piss off my friends. Again I'm glad everyone is ok.

Big Sky side country

GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 13, 2022 | Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center

www.mtavalanche.com

Moderate Hazard

"Near Bozeman and Big Sky, over the last 72 hours strong west-southwest winds drifted snow into dense slabs that can still be triggered by a person today."
"Before riding steep slopes, carefully assess the snowpack for buried weak layers and avoid slopes where you see signs of snow that was recently blown into thick drifts or slabs. Avalanches are possible to trigger and avalanche danger is MODERATE on wind-loaded slopes and LOW on other slopes."

 

[DMC_Hunter]

Pit digging isn’t some holy grail that the inexperienced folks that just got their avie 1 think it is.

I agree - it's a lot of things, but it would've prevented him from going into the terrain and risk getting killed. From the report the layer was pretty evident. That's all I'm saying.

Check it

 

[JTG]

I'm glad everyone is ok.
Feel free to blast me for my opinion now.

Hey, I intended no offense with my armchair QB comment. Obviously it can be difficult in the actual situation to make the best decision. Probably harder to look at a picture and say….yeah, you definitely should have done this or that. I’m still learning. Other than the crown line, what are the obvious signs of wind loading you see in that pic?

As to pits, if you actually know how to dig and evaluate one, they can be useful in certain situations. However, as RA points out, they often aren’t used, and that can be ok. I’ve been out with guides more than half a dozen times. Of those we dug a pit once.

 

[DMC_Hunter]

As to pits, if you actually know how to dig and evaluate one, they can be useful in certain situations. However, as RA points out, they often aren’t used, and that can be ok. I’ve been out with guides more than half a dozen times. Of those we dug a pit once.

RA's not wrong but that's what guides do - they take you to the best place that's safe based upon their knowledge. They know not to go to wind loaded bowls with documented weak layers. And if they get nervous - they dig. That why we pay them!

 

[raisingarizona]

I agree - it's a lot of things, but it would've prevented him from going into the terrain and risk getting killed. From the report the layer was pretty evident. That's all I'm saying.

Check it

That area has a detailed summary of current conditions posted every day. It’s already available and I guarantee the op read the report or at least the summary from the prior day. If someone has made their mind to ski something regardless of the information presented to them it’s more about heuristic traps. People have looked at all kinds of red flags, including pit data but still found ways to rationalize skiing slopes regardless. Like I said, pit data isn’t the holy grail. It’s a tool but understanding our behavior is imo a bigger aspect to keeping us safe.

 

[Ripitz]

I’ve skied lots of Big Sky sidecountry without digging a pit. I may be more conservative, perhaps lucky. I’m not saying they aren’t useful but sometimes I’d rather think light and ski as fast as possible with the least amount of turns than stop in an area and dig down to the ground when there is a potential for it to break 1,000 ft across in a terrain trap or there may be skiers coming in from above. In 2018 when the fatality of Yellowstone Club Patroller Darron Johnson occurred they had done 23 stability tests.

Patroller and Avalanche Expert, Darren Johnson, Triggers Slide that Kills Him | SKI-PATROL.NET

In 2015 when Tyler Stetson died near Beehive Basin they did not dig exactly in the spot where the avalanche occurred which was a slope that another group of skiers had just skied.

MSU student dies in avalanche

A Montana State University student who had taken avalanche courses and wanted to become a ski instructor died Sunday in an avalanche west of Big Sky.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

I’ve only seen a handful of pits dug and I’ve always seen them shear. It’s what you do with the knowledge of the test which is only one of many indicators. The two near death avalanche experiences that I’ve had happened in Chamonix where stopping to dig a pit was not only unrealistic but it would have put me in greater danger.

 

[raisingarizona]

I’ve skied lots of Big Sky sidecountry without digging a pit. I may be more conservative, perhaps lucky. I’m not saying they aren’t useful but sometimes I’d rather think light and ski as fast as possible with the least amount of turns than stop in an area and dig down to the ground when there is a potential for it to break 1,000 ft across in a terrain trap or there may be skiers coming in from above. In 2018 when the fatality of Yellowstone Club Patroller Darron Johnson occurred they had done 23 stability tests.

Patroller and Avalanche Expert, Darren Johnson, Triggers Slide that Kills Him | SKI-PATROL.NET

In 2015 when Tyler Stetson died near Beehive Basin they did not dig exactly in the spot where the avalanche occurred which was a slope that another group of skiers had just skied.

MSU student dies in avalanche

A Montana State University student who had taken avalanche courses and wanted to become a ski instructor died Sunday in an avalanche west of Big Sky.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

I’ve only seen a handful of pits dug and I’ve always seen them shear. It’s what you do with the knowledge of the test which is only one of many indicators. The two near death avalanche experiences that I had happened in Chamonix where stopping to dig a pit was not only unrealistic but it would have put me in greater danger.

this. This season I saw a group dig a pit right where they would have been slid if the slope were to slide. Why bother eh?

 

[tirolski]

Big Sky’s lady patrollers’ recent video.
Show’s ‘em blasting snow.

 

[DMC_Hunter]

Dig or don't dig. Test or don't test. It's up to you guys.
I don't have to go in the BC with you so it's not even an issue to me.
Have fun.

 

[Big Deal]

True story
I was walking to the parking lot shuttle last week. I was going down the metal staircase and I slipped. Dropped my skis, feet over my head… a big fall. I hit my head so hard that I dented the button n he back of my helmet.
I knew the stairs were wet and icy. All the signs of being slippery were there. I could have asked for help. Somebody could have carried my skis and I could have gripped the railing with both hands. There is an elevator that I could have used. I could have backed off and waited for a safer day.
But no. I thought that I would be able to handle it. After all, I have been down those stairs all season.
So you would have dug a pit. And then hiked a mile or so back up the hill to safety After seeing the results of your tests. So would snoloco except his book bag isn’t big enough for a shovel. My thoughts on digging a pit is that you will see what you want to see. If you are a cautious person you will see instability every time. As I said before, I knew the icy layer was there. I thought it would be okay. I was wrong.
Now my problem is going back out there. I’m not scared but if something happened again then I would be a repeat offender. Falling on the stairs sucks!