Comments on: Avalanche Takes A Life

By: Mark Spizer

Mark Spizer — Mon, 03 May 2010 07:06:18 +0000

great post as usual!

By: Niseko Webzine - Brad

Niseko Webzine - Brad — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:22:01 +0000

@ Ryan & Kuri – I think you guys have put forward a few very important points:
- Ride safe
- Be informed
- Carry a beacon & practice with it!
- Be 100% confident that your riding buddies are also competent and have their sh*t together!

Also don’t forget to check the batteries/power of your beacon! No juice no work!

By: Kuri

Kuri — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:12:11 +0000

I’ve also read he was carrying a beacon… but the sad reality is that MOST people found with beacons working properly are already dead.

We don’t really know many details – while an hour is certainly a long time we have no idea how many searchers there were equipped with beacons, what kind of beacons they had, or where they were in relation to the slide, the victim, or other dangers.
If there was only one other beacon in the group and it was way down the bottom of the hill then an hour may be considered quick – we just don’t know… We do know that after 15 mins your chances are 50% – and that’s ignoring the fact that fully 25% of victims suffer fatal or potentially life-threatening injuries before the slide stops and the clock starts ticking!

Carry a beacon and practice with it – but just as important be 100% confident that your riding buddies are also competent and have their sh*t together!

By: Ryan - Niseko ATLAS

Ryan - Niseko ATLAS — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:32:42 +0000

This is a tragic loss of life. Ride safe – be informed.

By: Chris Stoner

Chris Stoner — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:40:03 +0000

That is just messed up! An hour is well and truly game over, he had no chance of surviving.

By: Grant

Grant — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:16:49 +0000

Thanks. Will drop in when we get there!

By: Niseko Webzine - Brad

Niseko Webzine - Brad — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:14:20 +0000

Grant check out Black Diamond Tours or drop in at their lodge when you are in town - Black Diamond Lodge in Higashiyama. The crew their know their stuff and have all the gear to keep you safe!

By: Grant

Grant — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:11:10 +0000

So we are due to come over in a few weeks and want to do some backcountry tours without a death, can anyone suggest a safe company to use?

By: Bec Jones

Bec Jones — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:07:11 +0000

According to the news in Sapporo he was carrying a beacon. Hard to comment on if it is a ridiculous amount of time to find someone without knowing more of the details or being there at the time.

Hope all the tourists that are yet to come to Hokkaido this year have the right gear before going beyond the boundaries!

By: John Jenkins

John Jenkins — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:00:30 +0000

Did he have a beacon? An hour to find him seems ridiculous if he did or they new how to use their gear!

By: Stacey

Stacey — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:56:15 +0000

WOW that really is sad news! He must have been in amazing shape at 66 to hike up there. I think it took us like 3 hours and we were all mid 20s.