In-Bounds Avalanches, Part 2
January 10th, 2010Posted in Skiing in the Tetons
A couple of days ago I suggested that skiers venturing off trail to ski steeper powdery slopes within a resort’s normally avalanche controlled boundaries would be wise to wear avalanche transceivers and carry a shovel and a probe pole just as if they were heading into the backcountry. Here’s why…
Three significant avalanches where triggered by Grand Targhee’s ski patrol on very popular and normally heavily skied terrain in the bowl between Mary’s Nipple and Peaked Peak. A short hike up Mary’s Nipple is all that is required to access this deep powder bowl where the Targhee ski patrol usually has this terrain open for skiing a day after a storm. At least two of these avalanches are equal in size, or bigger, than the avalanche that killed Jackson Hole Ski patroller Mark Wolling this week. For a better feel for the size of these avalanches, look at the lower left corner of this image and you will see a thin line of about 10 or 12 search and rescue workers practicing their probe line technique for finding a buried victim. 
Because this terrain was closed to skiing yesterday I wasn’t able to get close enough to determine the height of the avalanche crowns, but you can see a couple of small human figures on the ridge top and compare their size to the avy crowns.
Every winter we all should obey ski patrol closures and heed all avalanche advisories posted by the local avalanche forecasters. This winter with the extremely dangerous snowpack we have to live with, we should be extra cautious no matter where we ski. Backcountry skiing should be done with extreme caution and even resort skiing should be assumed to be potentially dangerous once you leave a groomed trail in pursuit of inviting powder. Wear a beacon!
Mark commented:
Agreed, you should always bring avi gear if it’s sketchy out… if for no other reason – you should do it because other people are not smart in general. I bring my avi gear mostly for the safety of other people because I know that I might have to dig them out. It is statistically much more likely that someone else will be in an avalanche around me, than I will be in one myself. Terrible snowpack down here in Colorado this year too.
snowman commented:
Thanks for sharing your wisdom and for going prepared to help out. Agreed, luckily, that the gear is usually used to try and rescue someone else.
I hope all the precip crossing California and swinging southwest manages to bring you some much needed snow!