It had snowed over a foot during May of 2017, we went skiing to enjoy the last snow of the year. We drove over Loveland Pass to Arapahoe Basin, at the top of the pass, there were many people skiing down. The Loveland Pass is a common place for backcountry skiing, it is relatively safe, and close to many ski resorts. After spending the day skiing at A-Basin, I asked my dad if I could ski down the pass. We both thought it would be safe due to the considerable amount of people skiing down the pass. I was dropped off at the top, I would meet me dad at the parking lot at the bottom. As I started skiing, I decided to go far left, where there was few tracks. I was instantly met by deep snow and a very steep chute. I dropped into the chute, but …show more content…
We are sure you are ready to ski the backcountry in search of deep powder, but are you ready with the necessary gear and training? In the 2016- to the 2017 year, 47 people died in the backcountry. But, this number can be reduced. Taking proper safety courses and getting the right gear means less people will die in the backcountry. Just getting the gear isn’t enough. Everyone should take an Avalanche Safety Course before entering the backcountry. Buy your gear and book a course today.” I remember seeing this commercial, from that point on, I knew I would never go into the backcountry without the right gear and training. Recently, I got my backcountry ski gear. The backcountry ski gear includes three main tools that are essential to finding someone buried in an avalanche. The first tool is the beacon. The beacon is used to get a location of someone under the snow by searching for their beacon. The second tool is the probe. A probe is a collapsible rod that is used to penetrate the snow before striking the victim. Finally, the last tool is a collapsible shovel that is used to dig out the victim. After getting this gear, I signed up for an avalanche safety course. This course will teach me about how to efficiently use my tools and how to look for avalanche
Fredston, J.A., and D. Fesler. 1994. Snow sense: a guide to evaluating snow avalanche hazard. Alaska Mountain Safety Center, Anchorage, AK.
We looked around for a little while longer and Tom spotted a nice hit. It was an untouched field, with three 10-15’ drops which made for great hits. After hiking about a quarter of a mile we made it there. A quarter of a mile does not sound like that much of a walk but it is not as easy as it sounds when you are walking in snow past your knees deep, simply it took almost an hour and a half. We strapped in and took off, making huge carves in all the fresh powder that had probably not been ridden in at least a week. The first hit was coming and Tom shouted “hit it man,” As Dan and I approached the hit we got some big air. The only problem with riding such fresh snow is that when you land in that amount of fresh powder you sink like a rock.
Actually, it takes two seasons of horrible skiing conditions, which is what the Northeast ski industry has recently suffered. Two long years of rain, ice, sleet, and bitter temperatures. The biggest and best mountains in the Northeast have had their finest trails closed almost all of the 2003-04 season. The less open trails, the more crowded the ones that are open are. The less lifts that are open, the more crowded the open ones are. The more crowded the mountain is, the more angry skiers are. So what do these angry skiers do? They do the unthinkable and look elsewhere. They look west.
Avoid Accidents. The excellent manner to save you a head damage from skiing or skiing is to keep away from accidents. Hitting the floor is the primary motive of snowsports-related loss (74% compared to ten-thirteen% from beating bushes, people or different stationary gadgets).
I rush toward the mechanical clanking and rattling of the ski lift and collapse into the chair. Exhausted, I use this time to restore my energy. I begin to form the image of the steep route that I plan to attempt on my next run. Its nearly vertical face, large jagged rocks, and rough terrain send shivers down my spine and adrenaline into my veins. I painfully recall my previous attempt, where I did not perform the necessary technique in order to survive the run without a crash. This time,
A few winters ago, some friends invited my family and me to go snow skiing at Paoli Peaks, Indiana. I did not know how to snow ski, and I leaped at the thought of trying this new sport. On the first morning we entered the pro shop to rent all the gear and make decisions about whether or not to take lessons or go it alone. We decided to be adventurous and go it alone—no lessons. Kent and Celeste, the friends who invited us, knew how to ski and snowboard. He assured us that he could show us the basics, and we would be on our way down the slopes. All of us, after a few minutes learning how to wedge our skis started down the family trail. Although the family trail had smaller hills and appeared safe, to me it seemed way
“Here goes nothing,” I thought to myself before I skied toward the jump. I sped toward the jump remembering what Trevor had told me. I soared through the air with my neon green pants flapping in the air. As my skis touched down, I bent my knees and realized I had landed the jump. My Dad skied to Trevor and I, and I found out that my dad had recorded it so I could re-live the moment. I was super excited they had caught my success on tape! Soon after I landed the jump, it was time to leave
Thin air encompasses me as I commence the final day of skiing at Vail, Colorado. Seven days of skiing elapse rather painlessly; I fall occasionally but an evening in the Jacuzzi soothes my minor aches. Closing time approaches on the final day of our trip as I prepare myself for the final run of the vacation. Fresh off the ski lift, I coast toward the junction of trails on the unoccupied expert face of the mountain. After a moment of thought, I confidently select a narrow trail so steep that only the entrance can be seen from my viewpoint.
The traveler is advised not to make this trip with the lack of his inexperience in the Yukon due to the weather, the incoming storm, and its advisories. With the subzero freezing cold temperatures that came with the storm. “Fifty degrees below zero stood for a bite of frost that hurt and that must be guarded against by the use of mittens, ear flaps, warm moccasins, and thick socks.”(561)
He arrived at his first destination after about an hour of hiking. After a short while he figured he had looked over his new found haven enough, he was ready. He started down the grade with a small arsenal, consisting of a shovel, about ten granola bars, two bottles of power-ade, his snowshoes, and what was left in his hydration bladder in his pack. After descending about two hundred feet he came into the clearing he was hoping to find, it was as smooth as silk, twenty inches of fresh powder under his board. Up ahead he say a small but formidable drop off on the mountain, he knew if he was going to escape this with his dignity he was going to have to work some magic, to his success. The drop was approximately eighteen feet, but he was ready for it, he landed perfectly, it was like a dream the poof of snow exploding out from his impact, and the gentle flakes hitting his face. As he continued down the slope he did not realize that his gentle landing had severely weakened the physical structure of the mountain’s blanket, and that any moment he could bring the mass down upon himself at impossible speeds.
Imagine seeing a close friend, or family member getting tossed down a mountain face through trees and rocks in the middle of a raging avalanche. When the avalanche finally comes to a halt they are nowhere in sight. As panic begins to set in you realize there is no cell coverage, no ski patrol, or even a road within several miles. In that moment you are wondering if you will ever see your friend again, and if you do will they be alive. Every year several lives are lost in the backcountry due to avalanches. Many of those people could be alive if they had taken avalanche courses, and learned the basics behind avalanche safety. There are many precautions that need to be taken when entering the backcountry, it is crucial to bring all necessary gear, understand the danger and mechanics behind avalanches, and know how to conduct a rescue if someone is buried.
During winter vacation, I usually take a skiing trip to a cabin in the Washington State Wilderness. Loaded with everything from Monopoly to a waffle iron, my backpack shields me from snow dripped by evergreens. It never actually skis, but my backpack wouldn't dare miss a downhill ski trip in the Rockies of Idaho. I leav...
With violent storms and unpredictable avalanches, there’s no doubt that Mount Everest is dangerous for all who attempt to climb it. Various factors play into determining how great of a risk the journey to the summit is, including experience and amount of time on Everest. In recent years, the experience level of the climbers has dropped severely. Due to an increasing number of inexperienced climbers crowding Mount Everest’s slope, endangering themselves and fellow climbers, the governments of Tibet and Nepal, as well as private guiding businesses, should distribute permits to only those who meet specific health and experience qualifications. Mount Everest contains many dangers, making the climb extremely hazardous even for the most experienced
“Between 1994 and 2013, EM-DAT recorded 6,873 natural disasters worldwide, which claimed 1.35 million lives or almost 68,000 lives on average each year.” Most of these people could not control where or when the disaster would hit making them not very prepared. If people are not prepared for a situation they have a higher chance of dying, but even Sherpas are very well prepared and still die. Sherpas spend months in training before they are sent to guide tourists on Mount Everest, yet Sherpas are still killed by unpredictable things they can not control. “On April 18th, at about 6:30 a.m. local time, an avalanche swept down off the west shoulder of Everest and killed 16 climbers (Schaffer 217).”
Challenge plays an essential role in defining a sport; it provides the individual with the feeling of achievement in success. Skiing poses challenge even in its simplest foundations. Skiing on a poor quality hill, with icy snow and poor upkeep can sometimes create more challenge than a well-groomed slope. Skiing in the backcountry away from lifts and other people in freshly fallen snow provides an opportunity for the best of skiers to test t...