RIP Jamie Pierre

It's amazing the number of big time skiers that have passed in the pass ten years. I guess that's a testament to the dangers. I just don't get how a skier as seasoned as Jamie Pierre could go out there without avy gear, and not even realize that the avy conditions were so perilous.
 
Missoulian Report

Much more info there and if true he should have spent a higher proportion of his time listening to avi reports than god.

Pierre set off from nearby Alta Ski Area and made his way to neighboring Snowbird over a series of ridges. The two apparently avoided injury in one slide earlier in the day, officials said.
 
rfarren":30iqsj78 said:
It's amazing the number of big time skiers that have passed in the pass ten years.
Is it really more or they were more aware of them in North America due to ski movies? Quickly off hand, I can think of a few from a few years ago: Vallançant (1990), Boivin (1989), Petersen (1996) and probably a few others.
 
Patrick":1ih9vn0t said:
rfarren":1ih9vn0t said:
It's amazing the number of big time skiers that have passed in the pass ten years.
Is it really more or they were more aware of them in North America due to ski movies? Quickly off hand, I can think of a few from a few years ago: Vallançant (1990), Boivin (1989), Petersen (1996) and probably a few others.

True enough. It's still shocking that a skier as seasoned as Jamie Pierre went up without any avy gear!!! I guess you can't ever let your guard down.
 
rfarren":36qj3uix said:
It's still shocking that a skier as seasoned as Jamie Pierre went up without any avy gear!!! I guess you can't ever let your guard down.
I agree, but it's worthwhile to note that even if he had avi gear, it would have had no effect on the eventual outcome. Of much greater importance is the human factor and ignoring the obvious indicators, including bot the avi advisory and being caught in a smaller slide earlier that day.
 
What fascinates me is the whole "powder lust" angle and how it pays no mind to rational thinking. Living where he did and given the schedule of a pro skier, he could have looked forward to dozens of big pow days this season and said, "I've got a wife and kids -- maybe I should give today a pass."
 
Marc_C":3jrbdctg said:
Of much greater importance is the human factor and ignoring the obvious indicators, including bot the avi advisory and being caught in a smaller slide earlier that day.

That's the part that really gets me. What drives a person to ignore such an obvious situation? Was this just hubris?
 
rfarren":3daly3qr said:
Was this just hubris?
The quote from the Missoula newspaper about God granting him permission to do things like that was pretty unsettling. I'd like to think that the sister was speaking metaphorically, but I bet she wasn't.
 
UAC has issued its report - it is not pretty.
http://utahavalanchecenter.org/accident_gad_valley_11132011

Two key lines:
"While neither had any rescue gear or formal avalanche training, they were both expert skiers and knew the terrain well. They had not consulted the avalanche advisory that morning in which the danger was rated Considerable to High. "

Also:
"While ascending out of the Peruvian Cirque they remotely triggered a large avalanche that covered their tracks that they had just made. It's unclear whether they realized they had triggered this large avalanche."

The photo suggests that a huge portion of the Lower Cirque slid.
 
rfarren":28o4pjr7 said:
It's amazing the number of big time skiers that have passed in the pass ten years. I guess that's a testament to the dangers. I just don't get how a skier as seasoned as Jamie Pierre could go out there without avy gear, and not even realize that the avy conditions were so perilous.
Yea, Mother Nature can be a very cruel mistress and she does not have much concern for the lives of skiers and other back country enthusiasts. And even with avi gear and snowpack knowledge, there is NO guarantee of safety. My guess is that we will see more avi deaths as more and more people ski in areas not avi controlled.
 
rfarren":18hfavip said:
I can't believe that Jamie Pierre had no avy training! That is incredible.
Okay, not saying that he shouldn't have avy training, but I'm tired of people piling up on he guy. Who here as had avy training (not counting reading a book or seeing a DVD - actually course by a certified instructor)?
 
Patrick":20ojzbki said:
rfarren":20ojzbki said:
I can't believe that Jamie Pierre had no avy training! That is incredible.
Okay, not saying that he shouldn't have avy training, but I'm tired of people piling up on he guy. Who here as had avy training (not counting reading a book or seeing a DVD - actually course by a certified instructor)?

As a casual skier who skis exclusivly in bounds i dont have any training nor do i really feel the need to get any. Then again my full time job doesn't include skiing mostly in the backcountry.


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Bobby Danger":3hl8qlvp said:
two day course --- instructed by bruce tremper 14 -15 years ago

Good Bobby, who's next?

I hate second guessing one's decisions (MMQB) based on their perceived notions of the situation. Not defending his actions, but all the comments about his lack of avy knowledge and lack of training is over the top if it's coming from people that haven't had the training themselves. Not judging, just saying.

PS. I also followed a 2 day avy level 1 course back in 2008.
 
Patrick":2tfkcacv said:
Bobby Danger":2tfkcacv said:
two day course --- instructed by bruce tremper 14 -15 years ago

Good Bobby, who's next?

I hate second guessing one's decisions (MMQB) based on their perceived notions of the situation. Not defending his actions, but all the comments about his lack of avy knowledge and lack of training is over the top if it's coming from people that haven't had the training themselves. Not judging, just saying.

PS. I also followed a 2 day avy level 1 course back in 2008.

Level 1 in 2001, did my Level 2 last year with Silverton Avalanche school. I've been riding almost exclusively in the backcountry since back in 01.

I also work with an organization that provides free avalanche training. Friends of Berthoud Pass. Trying to make a difference. It's definitely a junk show at certain areas (Berthoud included), but we've made a big impact in the number of people who carry avalanche gear on Berthoud Pass versus those that don't. Can't get them all to comply, but from a visual stand point it's much better there today than it was in 01.

As far as the mistakes Jamie made, it blew my mind. No formal avalanche training is a broad statement. I know quite a few people who have had no formal training, but know their stuff. After reading everything I am not so sure about Jamie. Maybe he just got powder fever like the rest of the crowd. Seems that there were a lot of warning signs that said he should back off or choose different terrain.

It really sucks, he was fun to watch and the man could ski.
 
Killclimbz":1lpac4kq said:
I know quite a few people who have had no formal training, but know their stuff. After reading everything I am not so sure about Jamie. Maybe he just got powder fever like the rest of the crowd. Seems that there were a lot of warning signs that said he should back off or choose different terrain.

I can't imagine that he would've ignored the avy forecast if he had had proper training, or even if he really knew his stuff.
 
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