re: #136 3eff Jeff

It’s a dangerous sport, and a very special high. I know this won’t stop me from going and pushing myself. I also know that if I meet a similar fate, I’d want everyone to know I went out doing something I loved, and that I knew the score.

Would you tell any of them, “no, don’t go”?

That’s the main debate being had in backcountry skiing circles. Like the song from The Clash, “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?”

On 20 April 2013 six guys trekked out from U.S. Highway 6 on Loveland Pass in Colorado to go ride some sickness. Only one of them came back, and three of the deceased were right below him - his buddy’s face was right next to his knee.

All those guys were experienced, well-equipped, knowledgeable. They were all together for a fundraiser for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and to promote backcountry skiing.

The more I think about it, the more I can ascertain that a domino effect of bad decisions took place that horrible day in a short amount of time - no one said “No” - and BAM you get the worst avalanche accident in Colorado in decades.

The skiing community has to grapple with the risk vs. reward thing when it comes to the backcountry. And that’s a hard thing to do; the best and brightest skiers and snowboarders can do nothing but push the farthest and do the craziest shit. And every year a handful of them die with their boots on.