Avalanche | 9.1.2024 Chopok

[@MrIsomer]

That was an epic commercial for an airbag!

[@LocksmithScott]

Not so epic for an avalanche safety video though. This gentleman could have easily been broken himself on the rocks and while seemingly riding alone. And even with an airbag and no injuries , self rescue isn’t always possible. Glad he lived and hope he learned.

[@MrJibbin54]

Wow. Thank god you are alright man. Incredible example of everything to do RIGHT if you are caught in this situation! Only advice OBVIOUSLY is if there is absolutely any risk of avalanche, at the very least be with a friend!

[@OnceABustAlwaysABust]

Because dying alone sucks 😂

[@MrJibbin54]

@@OnceABustAlwaysABust to dig you out 😅

[@maCisoN69]

with everything to do right you mean pulling the airbag, right?

[@hhiibbaalleerr]

AMAZING...Thanks for sharing this. Glad you're okay! I have been skiing for well over 30 years, mostly in the wind scoured Eastern Rockies. I would have probably made the same decision, especially considering that things are almost "always wind loaded"...your video is gonna make me probe/cut/probe more carefully. What a ride. It scared the heck outta me, which is good!

[@yonishara]

Thank you for this video, very educational. Even with low avalanche risk wind is always the biggest risk to avalanches because it always creates a reletive weak layer compared to the hard pressed slab. Glad you are okay, I would suggest riding with a friend and I'm glad the airbag kept you on top of it.

[@sonjavass6769]

Hindsight is 20/20 but if i have ever seen a windpressed slab thats one.

[@raphaelwellig5066]

Hallo miteinander Vielen Dank für den ausgezeichneten, interessanten und lehrreichen Film. Ich war selbst 8 Minuten ohne Sauerstoff 1,20m in einer Lawine. Ich hatte drei grossartige Top Alpinisten bei mir, die mich in 8 Minuten raus hatten. Vielen Dank, es gibt keine Worte dafür. Natürlich hat die Air Glacier, und Ihre Rettungsmannschaft auch einen hervorragenden Job gemacht. Ich wünsche alle schöne Berg- und Skitouren. Mit alpinen Grüssen Raphael Wellig

[@jonnoble1551]

Thanks for posting. Educational. Ability of airbag to float you above the snow pretty impressive. Looked damn scary to me!

[@JohnnyGreatC]

Jsem rád že jsi v pořádku! Mazec!!!!! Respekt!

[@jacklav1]

Always good to have a buddy to dig you out.

[@williamyamm8803]

Well done, your skis didn't even come off 😊 Greetings from France

[@jarfrobinksss]

Looked like really windblown snow - high sign of avy danger

[@Jbhcwow]

Yah just watching this and seeing all the wind deposits with the main issue being wind slabs is not a good sign.

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Yes, I saw wind drifted snow. At this location there is wind drifted snow most of the time so I didn't pay too much attention to it.

[@Odhege8262]

@@freeriderxfd6827bet you will next time. Any time you see wind deposited snow, that’s a sign of possible instability…and also a good reminder to us all that just because a slope has been skied prior, doesn’t indicate stability. I’ve seen an entire side country bowl rip 8 feet deep with about 200 tracks down the face. Glad you’re safe

[@akairborne]

Thanks for sharing the video and the analysis. Great teaching and learning tool!

[@surfsteve81]

Good you're allright 🙌 In the video you see very strong wind from the right which made a big sideloaded windslap which was probably most weakest at the top right in the couloir. Thats probably also why you trigered it on the second run when you decided to go more to the right side. Thanks for sharing!

[@daniel72_751]

Glad you were safe - temperature gradient was higher on a north east slope and higher on the crest with thinner snowpack…

[@j.thomas7128]

That Avie Vest was LOUD! I'm glad ya had it on!

[@747Durango]

Great example of what not to do. Dont ski cut or sideslip steeps under a cornice or ridgeline. Best way to start a slide. That was the diffference between the first and second lines.

[@bsebesty]

Vow! Really well documented (& handled). Thanks for sharing

[@OneWayAdventures]

Thanks for sharing. Never put your ski pole strap in off piste.

[@double82]

treba jazdit s partakom aj ked si v stredisku. Z videa mi prišlo ,že si bol sám.

[@superdad942]

classic wind slab. That did not look stable at all to me, because you weren't penetrating it. It was a giant slab wafer in the gully. A good line to point it down in my opinion. It's impossible to know with certainty snow stability (25 years skilled backcountry snowboarder and previous mountain/avi rescue worker). Assume everything will slide EVERY time you shred.✌

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Most of time there's wind drifted snow there, so I did not see it as anything out of ordinary. Sometimes you go for the risk and it gets you back. The last sentence I agree 100% ( that's why I wear all safety gear and have airbag ready even if the slope is icy).

[@majo-ty3qq]

Make no certainties. There is no ordinary. Only the right now. A pole punch could have shown you the wind board. 1:08 shows wind loading/small cornice formation. Looks like you got up into the thinner part of the slab on the second run. Every slope, every time is different. You change/affect the structure every time you or others ride it. Active wind loading changed it in between your runs, too. Glad you are alright.

[@miroz5824]

Celkom stastie, ze ta doska bola taka tenka, inac ta mohlo zomliet este pred narazom do toho rebra. A potom by mohl byt aj problem s tymi palickami na rukach nezavisle od airbagu. Dik za video!

[@Peter-Ibex]

Tak to si mal riadny adrenalínový zažitok 😯, batoh pomohol , ostal si hore na lavíne , super že to takto dopadlo a dobre že to aj zdielaš... vela šťastia...

[@dannyisrael]

Thank you for sharing

[@dee2ski]

Obvious active wind loading and you popped the wind slab that are quite reactive while forming. Glad you're Ok!

[@freeriderxfd6827]

I saw wind drifted snow. But there is wind drifted snow all the time here, so I didn't pay too much attention to it.

[@davidzof]

As the skier said, first time through he kept more to the left so wasn't really skiing on the slab which was actually quite narrow and relatively thin. He goes right onto the middle of the slab on the second run. In the time between the runs the slab would have picked up more snow due to the drifting. Lucky he didn't injure anything.

[@dee2ski]

@@davidzof I mean, I agree 🤷‍♂

[@dee2ski]

@@freeriderxfd6827 I hope to get back to Slovakia some day, good times and good beer ( summer time) Cheers

[@andrewmoss6328]

Just an honest observation, but that windloaded slab was super obvious even on your first run - tons of wind scouring, the plastic sound of a wind-loaded slab, the tough, icy texture of a wind loaded slab, etc. Unless the avy report was green, you had some familiarity with the year’s snowpack, and you’d dug a pit on that slope to confirm that all those visual cues weren’t telling you something, that slope looked (to me) like an absolute no-go. I’m sure you’ve been rewatching the video over and over again - it’ll help you develop an eye for the signs.

[@julianbreitler]

This isn't meant personal and just for education, but if you didn't see the clear signs of wind loading in that couloir you should reconsider your decision making skills when freeriding. At 1:10 you kann clearly see how the rigth part of the couloir is in the Lee side of the wind and how it is beeing loaded with drifted snow. The formig of that new wind lib should be a warning sign. The weather was good and you could clearly tell the line between drfited snow and hard pack that has been cleaned of by the wind (were you skied during your first run). And at that exact line the avalanche broke of. During your first run you had luck because when you crossed the to the rigth near the rock wall (0:52), into the wind loaded bit, the slab was probaly thick enough to support you in that moment. You didn't cross it in a spot were it goes from very thin to thick snow. During the second run you crossed into the wind slab at the border between hardpack and windloaded snow, were it was very thin therefor cutting the weak layer with your skies and triggering the avalanche. Hope you are ok and be careful, this could have ended badly. Have fun freeriding and shred on! P.S. if there are similar conditions in the future and you still want to ride that couloir, go to the skiers rigth side of the wind lib (1:10), stop and try to trigger the wind lib or the slab with pressing or stepping on the snow pack with one ski. With that you can test the snow pack really quickly and still be out of harms way, but only do this if you are sure that the avalanche can't drag you down if you trigger something. Cheers 🤙

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Thank's for your comment, really appreciate it. I obviously saw the wind drifted snow, like 90% of time there's wind drifted snow here, so I didn't see it as anything out of ordinary, to be honest it was part of reason why I chose that line, everywhere else was hard and icy and here there usually is softer snow (but it comes with a risk). The pressing/stepping on snow pack is technique I frequently use.

[@maxnawrocki7956]

That's the exact spot at least Swiss and Tyrolian avalanche reports point out in their avalanche reports "in the transition from ... to ... weak layers, single skier can trigger avalanche" or "close to ridge lines where snow depth changes". Looking at the steepness of the terrain you are probably right at the edge for "too steep for moderate"

[@thoughtsandprayers]

@@maxnawrocki7956 This thread along with the video is actually so helpful to know what they're talking about in these avy reports. As a ski beginner still quite a bit away from freeriding (but drawn to it), this is amazing content.

[@certhass]

@@maxnawrocki7956 yep, the transition from the snowfilled chute where the thickness of the snowlayers can be enought so your weightcone doesnt reach to the weak layer to the ridge where the weak layer rises up very close to the surface is the critical section. its saver to ride in the middle of a snowfilled chute than ride on a ridge or close to a ridge

[@morninboy]

Good ride. I was worried as you neared the funnel section. Thank Buddha for air bags, or some other guy

[@paintingsofwaves_mikewoning]

Glad you are safe. 2nd run you skied onto a steeper ridge , looking to be over 35degr.

[@AlpineShenanigans]

I’m so glad that you got funneled out of the choke and didn’t hit hard!!

[@V1ktor24x7]

sick footage , im glad you okay

[@marianskalsky4659]

Dík za "report". Je dobré/poučné to vidieť takto FPV v známom teréne. Mal si riadne 🍀🤞

[@anthonyalpha4118]

Bro that is scary as FUCK! So glad you were prepared and survived way to ride it out bro 💪

[@peterchmurovic]

Joj, priatelia. Milujem hory, lyže, ale veru takto pokúšať osud sa nezberám.

[@matveyfilyanin6647]

Тебе очень повезло, чувак, рад , что всё хорошо закончилось

[@Spirited_skiing]

Thanks for the video, glad you survived but maybe bring a friend next time

[@jasonking8937]

The snow pack is real dodgy at the moment. Glad you are ok man..

[@vivianpop80]

The most important thing is that you didn't lose your skis!😅

[@GemblerCZ]

Uf, to jsi dopadl dobře, vypadá to šíleně 🙂

[@stephenkittle6586]

You are lucky to survive that , alot of people don't!!

[@123mitko123]

The first ride is lucky! The avalanche was evident by all indications - Hard snow under the skis + accumulated snow on the starboard edge from the wind = slab avalanche!

[@Charles-xe2qh]

Bloody hell, that was a close one!

[@mrti3]

Adrenaline rush for a day! That polish magical word must helped! Nicely handed.

[@Miszaification]

he is slovak i believe but they use it too

[@maudd1]

Great explanation, as we know this area is prone to avalanches at all levels, quite ‘lucky landing’. Cursing anyhow could be avoided in YT video by beep!

[@vladgeorgescu4049]

Glad you are alive;

[@anthonypeterson428]

You're lucky to be alive.. That was terrifying.

[@hamiltonian42]

Not at all surprised. Slope stability can vary significantly even a few metres apart. Repeat loading, varying loading, turn pressure etc will all have an effect. A basic avalanche safety course will highlight all this. What was the local avi forecast, for that aspect, altitude etc? Did you dig a snowpit? What were the results? If not, just a gamble... And airbags will not save you from terrain traps or rock walls & drops.... You were lucky!

[@ermanakbay]

I don't get how you didn't hit those rocks on the way down, you were heading straight in that direction. If you did hit, how did you get out uninjured?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

I'm not sure if I hit them or not, it's not clearly seen from video, but looking at trajectory I might have hit them and probably even took I bit air (I felt my back in the evening). I wear helmet and also back protector (probably helped), while going down I also just braced for an impact.

[@andrewvoigt6818]

Skiing avalanche terrain solo? I didn’t see a partner in the video…

[@pixelmixture3067]

snow felt nice ? the upper layer is crusty/icy !!!! the ideal conditions for an avalanche ....

[@genripper-b8q]

first run would have satisfied me. having the bag is good but it can enable a widened exposure. might make you feel the fracturing surface you saw in the 1st run was negligible. corny laps in mid may is all the bc i need

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Just like when they started making seatbelts, the crash rate actually increased, people felt safer and took more risks. Airbag is very good but it's not certain it will always save you, just increases your chances. But true, you fell somewhat safer with it.

[@genripper-b8q]

agreed. avabag set-up is like wearing leathers when moto riding. slovakian alps look burly. @@freeriderxfd6827

[@GrnXnham]

I was scared for you when I saw you approaching those rocks at high speed. You were very lucky. The air bag is great but it won't protect you if you hit rocks.

[@rbelatamas]

you are really lucky ❤

[@mirospikos]

Hnědej pruh byl?

[@URabout2b]

Folks who ride backcountry do not hard side cut an upward ridgeline and pause. Level 2 or not you increase chances for top layer release and being that far up a shoot it can take you out. It almost looked intentional.

[@okooczlik768]

Uff..najwazniejsze ze wszystko dobrze. Czy próbowałeś wypiac narty czy wszystko za szybko sie dzialo?

[@Gianni_87]

Don't go out there alone. snow looked crusty on top but soft underneath = high avalanche risk if disturbed

[@chopperhandley]

Skis on and still holding both poles...ready for a third run!

[@Freeski74JM]

MAMMUT saved your life! The perfect example, that when you freeride, you must have an airbag!

[@stepahinigor]

Glad you're okay! Thanks for sharing! Damn scared you were going to get hit by a rock. Soo main and annoying question: Where are your buddies, why alone? (I ask myself the same question and there is no exculpatory answer)

[@pixelmixture3067]

where is the rest of the team ???

[@kellilovski]

i think he was skiing solo

[@pixelmixture3067]

@@kellilovski it was meant to be sarcastic … riding solo is plain dumb

[@martinondreas2834]

na vyhlaseny stupen lavinoveho nebezpecenstva sa neda spolahnut. to ze na tvrdej vrstve z predosleho oteplenia je nafukane do dosky velke mnozstvo noveho snehu bolo jasne. mal si stastie... apropo podobne podmienky pretrvavaju aj teraz...

[@AW33COM]

Look at 0:00 That is wind blown slab. You can not ski that. If you cut this twice you would release it and end up in the safe spot on top of the right ridge, but you did not even bother to cut it. When you see snow like that you simply need to know it's unskiable.

[@josehude1]

Seš fakt borec.Takových je málo...

[@CjDcoy]

again, NEVER put the leash of your poles when going freeride, it can determine whether you live of die (because it can prevent you from moving)

[@ferdinantlaem4069]

there were many wind science and you triggered the avalanche book-like at the crossing of the wind -> non-wind side.

[@supervelomantrek7015]

Never put pole strap around your wrist when freeriding!!!!

[@cardboardcrawlersrc8805]

Question is, did you ever dig a test pit at the top of the slope to see if there was instability in the snow pack??

[@bl00df4rt]

I believe he just hit that perfect trigger point on the lee side of that rock/cliff feature where a small wind slab had formed. I can't be super sure because the video moves pretty quick, but this wind slab did not look well represented throughout the rest of the zone's snowpack. The first run was safer because he stayed out of this slab; the second (as he states), he went .5M to the right - directly into that wind deposited snow on the lee side of the rock feature. That's where this failed. I don't think an ECT was going to show significant signs of instability unless he dug it directly in the spot where it slid or underneath a nearly identical lee facing rock feature. I am not super seasoned in my snowpack studies, but I think this is one of those lottery failures; everything looks fine, it was just that last second decision to turn into that under represented wind deposited snow. Take away - stay away from possible trigger points like directly under lone standing rocks, large trees, bushes.

[@snezna_tisen]

Neuvěřitelné... a časový odstuo těch dvou jízd? hodka? jaká byla teplota?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Časový odstup tak půlhodinka. Teplota přesně nevím, ale v údolí bylo ráno -12°C, pak to šlo nahoru.

[@adenwellsmith6908]

Now that was some ride!

[@RomanTezky84]

Nečekal jsem taková slova😅 Lucky

[@sandorpalcso1142]

Lucky ride! 🤙

[@kristianpolonec123]

Hmm no 😀 živo si viem predstaviť ako by som si povedal "je to betón, tu nemôžem v žiadnom prípade nič urvať". Palec hore za super poučné videjko. Cítil si že by ťa batoh ťahal hore?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Ťažko povedať, končí to na otvorenom priestore kde sa sneh má kde rozliať, čiže nános nie je až tak vysoký, tiež som sa aktívne snažil zostať na povrchu. Určite som ale rád, že som batoh mal.

[@martin888martin]

Hezké video. Pěkný žlab, poznáme to tam. Mám otázku, jak si zpozoroval první náznak trhliny ve sněhu, byl čas zareagovat, vyskočit z toho vlevo či vpravo? Kolik sekund trvalo než se to dalo celé do pohybu, pocitově (jak si to vnímal)? Děkuji a hodně štěstí. Martin

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Dík za komentář. Moc sem nebyl v pozici z toho nějak vyjet či vyskočit, taky se to odtrhlo několik metrů nade mnou. Pocitově to trvalo déle než na videu, ono v takových krizových situacích se zbystří zmysli a človek to vnímá v takovém jakoby slowmotion.

[@RideYourself]

Do you think the airbag saved you ?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Can't say 100%. Certainly happy I had it.

[@aureliennovel6936]

@@freeriderxfd6827 ok thx. Be safe out there

[@Catcrumbs]

Would you have been buried without the airbag?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Can't say for sure. Maybe yes maybe no. "Landing zone" had space for snow to spread, so it did not get too thick. But certainly happy for having an airbag.

[@lindaeberlein7481]

Did you go alone? That’s do dangerous, isn‘t it?

[@dominik8010]

How high was the sea level.

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Top station of lift is 2004m above sea level, this couloir starts around 100-150m lower

[@jakabmarci4078]

That was a big "kurwa" for sure

[@bilsonFPV]

looking for a freeride partner on chopok for the next season. Have knowledge and equipment. interested?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

@@bilsonFPV yeah, why not

[@bilsonFPV]

@@freeriderxfd6827 cool. telegram, discord etc?

[@wojtech4327]

what kind of skis are these? length?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Atomic bent chetler 110, 180cm long.

[@Heike0815]

Beste Airbag-Werbung 👍

[@martinstugner3227]

pekne si poďakoval pánu Bohu, ja tiež ďakujem, ale trochu inak, možno aj vďaka tomu som prežil pár krát svoju smrť

[@angusmcdugal1]

Skiing on Hard Slabs will do that to ya!

[@abrianec]

It was the screaming on the first run that set it up. 😅

[@triroli71]

From your description I conclude that you have no idea about avalanches? Of course, a single trip is no guarantee that there is no danger. What was the warning level?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Of course single trip is no guarantee, but you still fell a bit "safer" if it's been ridden already than if you do first ride. Warning was 2 (moderate), with 1 below tree level. What part of description do you mean? I'm not the best with words so some might understand it different than what I meant.

[@dvdtbd]

that was scary!

[@alexandernett6451]

Možná se zkusit zamyslet nad hůlkama s nasazenýma řemínkama a vypínací sílou vázka. No ale je fajn, že to tentokrát vyšlo, nic jste neztratil a mohl tedy dokončit sjezd ;-)

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Vím, že řemínka na hůlkách není dobré mít, je to ale taková osobní preference si je nasadit. Vypínací sílu taky mám dost velikou, v minulosti jsem měl DIN 11 a při běžném oblouku mi to vyplo, od té doby nosím 13 což je dobré na náročný terén, samozřejmě horší na les a takovéto situace, je to taky taková osobní preference.

[@Tomasz.Tomaszewski]

What's the camera model? Is it mounted on a helmet?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

It's a Gopro Hero 10 and yes mounted on helmet.

[@shawnrezendes1165]

barely being able to see your tracks after the first run = tons of windloading

[@jurajslauka5817]

"no signs of instability" nevidíš tam tú nafúkanú dosku?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Dosku som videl. Bolo to myslené na to, že pri tej prvej jazde som nevidel trhliny, malé odtrhy, nepočul podozrivé zvuky a tak. Doska tam býva nafúkaná prakticky vždy, tak som ju podcenil.

[@wrx5555]

Have you called emergency services so they don't start rescue mission?

[@freeriderxfd6827]

I did not. I thought about it. I made few rides afterwards and kept looking if there were rescue teams coming to that location, in case somebody has called so I could tell that everything was ok. I chose not to call in case there was another avalanche close by and somebody needed help so that they don't get confused.

[@dacat8171]

Beginner mistakes: Too slow and too high at the shoulder. At the shoulder(?) the snow layers are thinner and disturbing the critical layer is easier. ☝🏿🧐

[@freeriderxfd6827]

Well it was first propper day of riding in season and first rides in nearly month time (due to other duties in life), so of course I did not ride as fast and as confident as at the end of the season. I'm no beginner, but mistakes do happen, nobody's perfect.

[@dacat8171]

@@freeriderxfd6827 Sorry for posting! It is always easy to comment afterwards. I think you learnt your lesson. Enjoy the rest of the ski season

[@rhettd80]

Wow look a windslab sitting on top of a shitty crust. Only windslap pops, shocker

[@maCisoN69]

I know this looks a little "smartass" to say now, especially as it's a youtube video and the avalanche already happened. But looking at this run and your first turns, I'd say there are already signs for this to happen.

[@thetechlead1761]

Well lack of instability is only a, wrong, impression you got. There is a reason why mountaineers will actually dig in the snow with a shovel, and perform a more thorough test while looking at the snow layers to judge how stable the snow is. Simply because you cannot judge the danger when you are gliding on top of the most recent layer and you don't know what is below it. You are lucky, but how much effort did you put into evaluating the situation? I see in the mountains (especially since ski touring got so popular) that people do a lot of YOLO things

[@angusmcdugal1]

You would have never found that layer "digging in the snow". This was a Hard Slab avalanche from wind deposition. Recognize wind slabs, especially hard wind slabs, and stay off of them.

[@freeriderxfd6827]

I agree. As it held first ride I got false impression that it's somewhat safe (obviously I know and I knew that avalanche can trigger even if the slope has already been ridden). Digging snow profile is certainly really good practice (though to have exact impression of snow layer at particular place you need to be in "danger zone" which cannot always be safely accesed, and then you need to dig at base of slope or different slope of same character, that can potentionally give you safe profile, but on the top it can then be different story, but yes, snow pits provide valuable information). I did not dig that day, if I was ski touring and climbig up that slope to ride it down I would take a look at snow profile. As this is freeride zone easilly accesible by lift, I did not dig (and to be honest I am not sure if anyone who goes lift accesed freeriding here digs here, I've never seen anyone here do that). To make profile you would need to either ride down that slope first or climb from bottom. Before skiing here I read local avalache bulletin, I look at snow profiles published by rescue service and look at the weather from past days. Then on top of slopes I look at the snow, recent avalanches and I do test snowpack by jumping on it to see if crack appear. Sometimes you just go for it, even though you know it is not exactly safe (It's stupid to say, I know). This particular couloir starts about half-way down the face, route here was hard and ice, with zero powder/wind drifted snow. This couloir 90% of time has wind drifted snow, also once you stand on top of it, you don't have much else to go I have to commit to riding down here.

[@stefanmargraf7878]

The slope wasnt that nice.

[@michaelmueller9635]

KKKUUURRWWWAAAA 😁

[@michallasan3695]

Veď práve tvrdý sneh je problém - ubitý vetrom, tento prípad.

[@philippechassot6666]

No sign ????? Typical wind slab everywhere !!! Sorry, but it' s your fault

[@gabrielbagita7861]

Hmm, tak mal si silný zážitok 😁

[@dgw6448]

Get rid of those pole straps ! Not kidding , remove pole straps for backcountry skiing !