RSS
Special to realvail.com
Headline RSS FeedAvalanche death a time for reflection, study
January 5, 2008 —
It’s Friday, Jan. 4, and I’m sitting at my computer studying photos of a fatal avalanche that took place in our neighborhood backcountry earlier in the day. It’s pretty scary because I spend a significant amount of time out there. So I’m studying to learn.
What went wrong, what went right, and what is predictable about what is not predictable? The fact of the matter is there are so much data and so many variables that you can’t ever really get it all or completely predict what is going to happen. So you try and gather as much as you can and work your way backwards from that. Because when things go wrong out there, they really go wrong.
First the facts: a 27-year-old skier named Jesse Brigham, who worked at Vail Resorts’ new Arrabelle at Vail Square complex, was caught in a slide in the popular backcountry area adjacent to Vail Mountain that’s known as the East Vail Chutes. He was wearing a shovel, beacon and probe and skiing with two friends, who pulled him out after 10 to 20 minutes under the snow and tried unsuccessfully to revive him.
Those are the facts, but let’s just look at a bit of the data and think about it. We had significant snowfall, very cold conditions for several days, several wind events and then finally dry, cold conditions with a quick warming on the leeward side of a slope with a cornice at the top. All of this added up to some fairly unstable conditions, although the Colorado Avalanche Information Center was reporting only moderate avalanche danger with areas of considerable danger.
Yet the skiing around that area can be amazing. So amazing that we tend to overlook the signs. We expose ourselves for a thrill. A really fun thrill that can come with consequences.
So know this and realize you can only expose yourself to those consequences for as little time as possible. More importantly, only expose one person at a time to the consequences. The fact of the matter is that you are not going to eliminate the consequences, so work with them if you are going for this thrill.
The best way to do this is to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Just recently I was asked to take a friend into the backcountry. I was hesitant about it. I was not sure of his capabilities and he was not sure of mine. But the fact of the matter is that once out there you are going to depend on one another to possibly save each other’s lives. So it might be a good idea to learn who that person is that you will be traveling with.
When I decided to say yes because he seemed skilled enough, he showed up with a friend. So now we had three. Two people I did not know. The concept made me uncomfortable. In some cases, I look at the other individuals and think, if anything should go wrong, can they save me? Or if something should go wrong for them, can I save them? More importantly, can they save themselves to eliminate exposing their ski partners from getting in harm’s way?
Can you ski out of the backcountry on one ski if you should have mechanical failure or lose a ski? Or can I carry them out (are they light enough)? Sounds ridiculous, right? No … it is reality. Think about the worst possible thing that can happen in the next several hours that you are exposed, and ask yourself if you can deal with it.
There was a point that two of us were exposed in a slide area digging for a lost ski with no one above us to come save us should something go wrong. I broke every one of my rules to deal with this.
Don’t break your rules. They are hopefully based on common sense. And, to tell you the truth, that is the best tool we have working for us out there. So listen to it and leave your ego checked at the door, as that is probably the most dangerous thing out there for us: our own egos. Pride is one of the seven deadly sins for a significant reason.
But one blurry thing that has gone on lately is the definition of backcountry. It is where Mother Nature is free and wild. She snaps her fingers and we are just specs in the realm of her power. This brings up another point: do not ever underestimate her power. It is beyond anything predictable.
So if you are going to go and play with her, then try to only expose one person at a time when she decides to flex her muscles.
Until next time, cheers.
Submit a comment on "Avalanche death a time for reflection, study"
Special to realvail.com
Programs, powder abound in hectic holiday season
December 25, 2007 —
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I’m happy to say that the skiing has been amazing here in the Vail Valley. It’s been snowing a little bit every day, and the temperatures have been staying low to keep the snow we have in the perfect state of crystallization. All in all, this went from possibly being one of the worst starts of the season to one of the best. It is amazing how things can change.
I want to thank all my strategic partners for a great 2007! You know who you are. It’s been nice to be home and working on both Beaver Creek and Vail mountains before I hit the road again.
I was even able to sneak a trip over to Aspen Highlands this past week and hike the bowl with one of my friends and Heli Camp graduates, Kent Hootman. Highlands was in excellent shape and surprisingly empty. So Kent and I took advantage of it and accumulated as much vertical as possible until I lost a ski.
Yep, it came right off my foot only to be found an hour later after a lot off digging and a bit of luck. I’m still waiting for that day that someone comes up with a ski locater for these big powder days. It happens so much it would be worth the investment.
In fact, a day before another individual I was skiing with lost his in Vail’s backcountry. A loss that not only wrecked his day but made for a long journey out to safety. Which brings up a very good point. Always be confident that you can get out of where you are on one ski.
The highlight of this week, besides some longtime friends arriving in town for the ninth year in a row had to be getting the chance to go and shoot some video plus still photos in the Beaver Creek’s Stone Creek Chutes. Check this footage out on www.beavercreek.com. The terrain, which can be found through an access gate, is some of the best extreme mini-golf in the Valley. But it should not be taken lightly.
Before I leave for Italy to host one of my camps with former Italian national champion Marco Tonazzi, I have a couple of other programs coming up. Check them out, or better yet, sign up for one. If not this year, then next. You can find all my programs on my website at www.chrisanthony.com.
Coming soon:
Dec. 28-30: Aspen Highlands Freeski Camp with Chris Davenport and Chris Anthony: This new camp has been in the works for a couple years and Chris and I are proud to finally offer three days of steep skiing, instruction, and guiding at one of North America’s premier “big mountain” resorts. This camp is limited to 10 skiers only and is for expert skiers looking to take their skiing to the next level. The three-day camp includes lift tickets and one on-mountain lunch at Cloud Nine Restaurant. Cost: $1,125. Contact Chris Davenport for more info or reservations or go to www.steepskiing.com or www.chrisanthony.com.
Week Three: Jan. 6-11
Jan. 6 – 11: Park Hyatt Resort and Spa along with Chris Anthony and the Beaver Creek Ski School present Technique Weeks.
Package Includes
• Five night deluxe accommodations with full breakfast daily
• Four days of skiing and personalized instruction with Deb Armstrong or Chris Anthony and a hand-selected teaching team from Vail/Beaver Creek ski school
• Four day lift tickets interchangeable for Vail and Beaver Creek
• Nightly amenity package complete with signature Technique Weeks Descente gear
• Complete skiing evaluation with the use of video analysis
• Take-home ski adventure DVD to highlight your time at Technique Weeks
• $50 credit to the newly renovated Allegria Spa
• Welcome reception dinner
• Après ski events/parties and three dinners
• Evening seminar on nutritional and ski conditioning
For info or reservations, call (970) 827-6634, go to www.parkhyattbeavercreek.com or email Jen Rankin at jrankin@hyatt.com.
Until next time, cheers!
Submit a comment on "Programs, powder abound in hectic holiday season"
Special to realvail.com
Keep it steep, deep and safe over the Christmas break
December 18, 2007 —
This is honestly one of my favorite times of the year. When all the lights are up, the second homes are filled with people from all over the world. It’s also great for the locals, as we do not have to go anywhere - it all comes to us.
But it does come with a price. Not only is this when the locals work the hardest, they too are also participating in the celebration. So everyone hang in there and exercise good judgment this holiday season. Let’s come out of this with smiles.
The snow this past two weeks has been awesome! I love the cold temperatures. I’ve done a few photo shoots lately and the snow reacts perfectly for the camera when it is this light and dry. This is true Colorado champagne powder.
And with the latest technology in clothing, there is no reason to be cold out there even on the coldest days. So make sure to get out there, but dress correctly. Go get some Smart Wool or Obermeyer base layers and good socks. Get an Obermeyer Insulator, and, of course, an Obermeyer outer layer.
Then make sure to put your Rocky Mountain Sunscreen on even on the cloudy days. It will help protect beyond just the sun. Get a nice warm Chaos hat or a helmet to keep that head warm. Most of our heat goes out through our head.
I spent a couple of days in the backcountry recently. The snow stability was pretty good. It is never completely safe, but it was good. The cold weather has pulled the moisture up through the pack and helped to bond it a bit.
But this makes it also tough for after the next snowstorm hits if we have too many dry and cold nights because this layer that is being exposed to all this cold air will become the weak layer. So, long story short, it is a kick in the pants back there, but be careful. Two weeks ago there was massive settling.
Some side notes: Watch the TV8 Morning Show from 6:30 on. I’ll be giving things away on certain days over the holiday break, but I’ll only be doing this before 7:30 a.m.
Make sure you take advantage of the free concert series in town this winter. And Check out the Vilar Performing Arts Center. They have some awesome shows coming up.
Make sure to take time to remember those that will not be with us this holiday season.
And of course, stay tuned to my Blog as I head off to Italy to catch up with the U.S. Women’s Alpine Ski Team, China to visit some resorts, and Beaver Creek for my Park Hyatt Beaver Creek and Spa Technique Weeks camps. I will also be hosting a camp at Aspen Highlands with Chris Davenport on Dec. 28-30.
The Aspen Highlands Freeski Camp with Chris Davenport and Chris Anthony has been in the works for a couple years, and Chris and I are proud to finally offer three days of steep skiing, instruction and guiding at one of North America’s premier “big mountain” resorts.
This camp is limited to 10 skiers only and is for expert skiers looking to take their skiing to the next level. The three day camp includes lift tickets and one on-mountain lunch at Cloud Nine Restaurant. Cost: $1,125. Contact Chris Davenport for more info or reservations.
Till next time, cheers
www.chrisanthony.com
Submit a comment on "Keep it steep, deep and safe over the Christmas break"
Special to realvail.com
Sex in the mountains (with a lot of snow)
December 14, 2007 —
Things have slowed down for just a moment here in the Valley. One could say it’s the calm before the storm. But what a nice calm it is. The locals can take advantage of the empty slopes and ski endless powder runs by themselves with no lift lines. This is one of the benefits of trying to live in a ski town with several of your friends in a one bedroom.
On that note, some of the core were in Beaver Creek last Sunday for the opening of Grouse Mountain. This is one of the most important days of the season in the Valley. It is the only time that Grouse has zero bumps on it and trackless snow. That combined with a high-speed quad and you can literally pluck off six Grouse Mountain runs in an hour. This is more than impressive. This is skiing for the entire season wrapped up into one day and one mountain.
I had the pleasure of hosting some new friends from NYC this past weekend. They’re part of a group called Smallworld.com. This young A-list crowd took to the slopes like fish take to water. They also took to the nightlife like a moth to a light. Walking around with them I felt like I was on the TV show “Entourage.” This is one tight group that knows how to have fun.
I know, enough analogies.
Well, this NYC group made me laugh for two solid days. It is amazing how a bit of fresh snow can put a smile on a few faces. I hope to see this group back soon. They did mention they are all going to come on my Italy trip next year.
This brings me to a very important topic. Marco Tonazzi and I still have room for out Feb. 3 Valbruna, Italy, trip. Otherwise known as “The Wine and Dine Tour with a SKIING Problem.” For more information, please visit my website at www.chrisanthony.com, or you can email skidynamic@hotmail.com.
I spent Thursday on the mountain with a journalist and a photographer doing an interview and skiing the Minturn Mile. It was the perfect day. The temperature was low enough to keep the snow super light and fluffy while the world around us was so calm. It was a beautiful ski down.
And on that note, the conditions are looking very good on the slopes. Enough to open more terrain this weekend. In Beaver Creek, Larkspur Bowl should be opening. I hope to see you there. As winter has blessed us with her presence and the backcountry is calling…
Until next time, cheers!
Submit a comment on "Sex in the mountains (with a lot of snow)"
Next
