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Q- Ball
Mountain climber
where the wind always blows
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 7, 2016 - 01:26pm PT
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Togwotee Pass connects Dubois and Moran Junction Wyoming. My brother and friend and I had decided to explore and ski mountains near the summit of the highway. We had about 3 feet off fresh snow and the avalanche report was good.
I had just purchased a new backcountry ski setup and was excited to be out of Laramie for a few days. We left Lander in the dark and reached Togwatee at first light.
We skinned up and checked our avalanche beacons. Mine was dead. I said “who cares!”. My brother bowed up and said, “I do!” Shuffling through my truck I found a flashlight and borrowed the batteries. It powered up, good to go!
Skinning up Two Oceans Peak took several hours. Deep snow and we took turns breaking trail.
At a plateau near the summit we stopped and had lunch. It was zero degrees but we were hot from the climb. The snow conditions seemed contrary to reports and we dug and tested two pits. The results told us avalanche danger was minimal (we were wrong).
We picked a route to descend and I went first. I stopped several hundred yards below and hollered, “its good!” My buddy Nick then pushed off. He made one sharp turn at the crest.
While looking up I heard a crack like lightening and knew I needed to get to the trees 5 feet away. I didn’t make it.
The initial slab was 3-4 feet deep and 100 yards long moving as a single object. As the snow moved it became quicksand and took me under within 5 seconds. I was two feet away from safety.
Advice says to swim when in an avalanche. I tried that and it doesn’t feel like swimming. I was mad about the phone call my parents were about to receive. It felt like swimming in liquid concrete. Between strokes I tried and keep snow out of my mouth (no luck). It was dark and I couldn’t tell if my struggles were taking me up or down.
After a few hundred yards tumbling under the slide, I felt is slow. My mouth was packed with snow and the avalanche of concrete was thickening. As it stopped my body rotated and my face popped to the surface. I had one arm and cleared my mouth.
I yelled, to my brother and friend, “I am okay, are you?!” unsure if they were also buried. I heard them both respond from above and felt the greatest relief.
Unknown to me they were initiating a search using our beacons when I hollered out. They assumed I had skied out of the slide. When I yelled “I am fine” they both sat down trying to gain their own composure, while I did the same knowing they were alright.
I tried to free my other arm from the snow but found I couldn’t move anything at all. I waited patiently for my friends to reach me. After ten minutes I yelled back, “are one of you f—kers going to dig me out?”
“Oh sh-t” rang out from above. They were next to me in seconds and started digging me out. I assured them I was fine, just stuck. My body was contorted under the snow but not broken.
They dug a pit around me but I couldn’t free my left foot. My brother was bumping my boot in the 5 foot hole and it wouldn’t budge. We thought my ski must still be attached. Not the case, just solidified snow. The excavation was finished and I was freed.
Once free, Will checked me out and agreed I was in one piece. Nick went up the hill looking for my skis. He found a single ski 100 meters uphill. We probed at my excavation site and couldn’t reach bottom of the debris with 12 foot probes. I took pictures of the scene so I could return in spring for my lost gear (hat, glasses, ski poles, and one ski).
I put my one recovered ski on and started for the highway. Difficult going. A guy on a snow machine showed up and offered me a ride. I accepted graciously!
On the ride out my emotions turned on. I knew I was now safe, but furious I had almost taken the “6 foot dirt nap”. I called my folks but didn’t leave a message.
Late that night, my folks received a call. They let it go to the answering machine. It said, “I am sorry to hear about your son, we are here for you.”
Out of cell phone range they had tried to call multiple times. We have never figured out what the ghost message was about.
I have only climbed one alpine route after this, and it terrified me. I stick to jungle exploration vs. alpine these days.
“Avalanches don’t discriminate” –Al Bedinger (in response to Alex Lowe’s death)
Be safe out there!
-Q-ball
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enjoimx
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Glad you are OK.
Can you post the pics?
Thanks
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Really glad you are still here.
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splitclimber
climber
Sonoma County
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Not gonna armchair qb this one
Did this just happen? Please report to you local avi center if it did.
So, what was the advisory and rating?
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Dave
Mountain climber
the ANTI-fresno
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Yikes. Glad to hear you made it out.
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Q- Ball
Mountain climber
where the wind always blows
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 7, 2016 - 01:39pm PT
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Spitclimber,
This happened a few years ago, but thought it could help folks when reading the warnings. You need to know what you are doing! And not just trust others. Be proactive in testing conditions, it takes time but could save you or your friends life.
Thanks for the clarification I needed!
Q-ball
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splitclimber
climber
Sonoma County
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It would be good if you added some kind of post incident evaluation, not just a close call story.
Something like an unrepresentative pit location, evaluation of your stopping location and safe zones, terrain selection and heuristic traps.
Thx for the share
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F
climber
away from the ground
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^
What he said.
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Q- Ball
Mountain climber
where the wind always blows
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 7, 2016 - 01:57pm PT
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Splitclimber-
I don't pretend to be an expert. We dug pits at two locations during the day. One midway up and one where the slide occurred. Both my friend and brother have mid level training in avalanches I do not.
Something like an unrepresentative pit location, evaluation of your stopping location and safe zones, terrain selection and heuristic traps.
I wish I had more info to share.
The area would be considered a terrain trap. We shouldn't have been there. Sorry I have limited answers. I may be able to find pictures in the basement if you are interested?
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Every backcountry skier's nightmare. Glad you survived.
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
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That is great write-up. Thanks for putting this up on the Taco. The Rocky Mountain snowpack is fickle.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, Q-ball... whewwwwww, glad you are okay...
:)
a very needed thing, to do, share about these avalances...
You need to know what you are doing! And not just trust others. Be proactive in testing conditions, it takes time but could save you or your friends life.
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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What an amazing story. Isn't every day a gift?
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Good outcome, considering!
Lot's of info out there now, avalanche conditions, reports, photos.
Best to take a class if you're new to the sport.
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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Amazing how so many of our very best have been taken by avy's and crevasses...
Scary stuff.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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what's with the ghost message on the parent's voicemail?
weird
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overwatch
climber
Arizona
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Agreed, the most interesting part of the whole story. Glad you survived.
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Q- Ball
Mountain climber
where the wind always blows
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 8, 2016 - 12:44pm PT
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My friend (from that day) returned in early summer and recovered my other ski and a single ski pole.
I also shared the story with an old mountaineering partner. She somehow located the exact spot of the slide and found my glasses, hat and my second ski pole.
Never use ski leashes backcountry, and don't use the wrist loop on your ski poles!
I still wear those glasses
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Next yer gonna tell me I shouldn't go backcountry solo? Sheesh! One time I did and heeded
the no leash or pole strap rule I got nailed and spent FOREVER looking for my gear! If I
hadn't found both skis I'd still be there - it was bad enough skiing out 15 miles with one pole.
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