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"Last Tracks" in The Stranger
- telemack
- [telemack]
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She also makes Joedabaker sound like the super-guru that he is.
:
www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=521725
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- RonL
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I still take issue with what seems to be new catch phrase though "Avalanche beacons breed complacency". I don't want to speculate about whether or not safety equipment could have saved more people this year but I am pretty sure that being prepared isn't one of the parents of complacency.
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- Tophervw
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Well stated Eric
a good read
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- Joedabaker
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Maybe I an misreading the context of this, but my understanding of complacency is the attitude, "I have a beacon, so we can ski anything and we will be safe." The feeling that I purchased insurance (a beacon) so we will be safe or "they will find me" without proper understanding of the snowpack.I still take issue with what seems to be new catch phrase though "Avalanche beacons breed complacency". I don't want to speculate about whether or not safety equipment could have saved more people this year but I am pretty sure that being prepared isn't one of the parents of complacency.
When I was approached for this article, I was very careful about the message that would be conveyed to the readers without intruding on the writers creativity and the sensitivity of the men's families. My feeling was that it would partially, on some level, raise awareness of the dangers and happiness that is found in backcountry touring. I appreciate the balance that Courtney created with the article with respect to the families who have lost their loved ones.
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- Marcus
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- RonL
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- telemack
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Beacons are useless until after I am completely buried, and who would ever want that?
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- slipslider
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When you drive your car to the ski hill, the speed you drive (comfortably) is regulated by issues like the ability of the brakes to stop in an emergency, or the capability of the tires to steer out of the way of an obstruction, or the effectiveness of an airbag to soften the effects of a collision.
On the slopes, the way you ski is affected by the confidence that you will be able to avoid injury (or worse) . Releasable bindings permit faster speeds ... wearing a helmet makes skiing a more challenging pitch seem less risky ... strapping on a parachute mitigates some of the risk of skiing off a gnarly cliff.
Most kinds of safety equipment lessens the risk of the associated behavior, unless the individual changes behavior patterns because of the presence of safety systems. Driving faster "uses up" some or all of the cushion of brakes, tires and airbags ... the same could be said for skiing.
The risk of death or injury is the sum (or product) of a whole series of factors. If the risk of dying in an avalanche is 20% (once you encounter one) and the risk of encountering one is 10% in a given situation, then it could be calculated that the risk of dying in those circumstances is .20 * .10 = .02 ... (ie, a death every fifty times you enter that situation)
You can decrease the risk of dying once caught by skiing with a buddy, and using beacons, shovels, probes and being well trained in their use. But, if at the same time, with all of that caution, you venture into more dangerous terrain, then you have burned up much (all) of the safety you may have accrued.
SS
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- skykilo
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I frequently ski without one.
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- RonL
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- Snow Bell
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I have twice refused random skiers seeking to join me (our party) who did not have avi gear. Both times the conditions were prone to slide and we were headed for exposed terrain. I have had second thoughts about weather leaving them to their own devices was less considerate but we were not inclined to limit our tour to more conservative terrain. Both times I explained this to them and encouraged them to step it up.
I will admit that in moderate or low avi conditions I am prone to keeping my unit in my pack.
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- Marcus
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On preview -- it's very rare that, if I have my beacon WITH me, it's not on and beeping. Batteries are cheap and my memory is porous.
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- RonL
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- khyak
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- Gary Vogt
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- Jason_H.
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- Splitter
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Seeing slab debris from Northwest slides is enough to convince you that avoidance is the best option and keeps you (hopefully) from foolhardy behavior due to the use of a beacon. Exposure and terrain traps also make convincing arguments for rational thought uninfluenced by gear.
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- RonL
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- geo
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