SLAB AVALANCHE!!! (POV): Heli-skiing in Colorado backcountry (San Juan Mountains, CO)

Ever rode an avalanche down a mountain in the backcountry of Colorado? A week ago today I had that harrowing experience while heli-skiing in the San Juan Mountains that surround Telluride, CO. A terrifying and humbling experience, and I’m truly grateful to have been able to walk away. Here’s the video…
(Slab break at approx. 2 min. into video)
Playback Setting: (recommend 1440 HD quality)
#avalanche #heliski #skiing #colorado #gopro #sanjuanmountains #rockymountains #helicopter #slabavalanche #backcountryskiing #ski #snow

[@danielcrescenzo354]

Just in case you were wondering, you can heli ski in the avalanche capital of the world. “Deep persistent slab” is life here in CO. Our backcountry is generally hazardous most of the time. I can’t imagine what insurance looks like for these guides.

[@jacobstein828]

You’re likely to receive some flack for the video about a whole number of things, but I just wanted to say thank you for sharing it - it’s important to share experiences like these so they can be prevented in the future. I’m glad you’re safe =)

[@gabelyon1071]

Shouldn’t it be the guide who gets flack? Hard to ding an inexperienced skier who is realistic about their level of skill and hires professionals…

[@paulzeee]

Yes 100%

[@bertrenolds5]

@@gabelyon1071 that was a pretty easy face that was pretty low angle, guide brought him to a safe area. shit happens, luckily he was ontop of the slide. Waited long enough to pull the bag though

[@rustyshackle917]

​@@bertrenolds5 you work for the guide company or something? Blaming the client? Shit happens? I saw red flags the moment they stepped off the helicopter. Lol. Take note people; these folks will take your money regardless of how dangerous conditions are.

[@8.o.clock.]

That is so wild, glad you were able to stay above the snow and ride it out.

[@BillyMustang101]

Thats some insane footage of it travelling up hill

[@matt.rraw.]

like a freakin tsunami but in reverse!!

[@TheMacki95]

oh good iam not the only one

[@jmb989]

It's not traveling uphill; it just appears that way. The whole slab is sliding downhill. The wave you see is the slab flowing over the staunchwall as it goes downhill.

[@Useryofcsdnx]

Yes it is traveling uphill He was standing still, stopped and was knocked off his feet

[@Anderkent]

@@Useryofcsdnx hes standing still on snow that's moving down. look at the track he's following at 2:01 - it's clear he's moving down relative to where that goes beyond the slab edge

[@GoPro]

Hey there 👋 What an insane experience, we are so happy that you were able to walk away from it. We'd be very interested in sharing this on our channels. Please let us know the best way to get into contact with you 🙌

[@EvPowPMH]

Hi there @GoPro 👋 It WAS an insane experience, thank you! You can DM me at my Insta: @ev_pow 🤘

[@WesternMediaWorks]

Wow. Thanks for sharing. Glad everyone is ok.

[@erikdrinkwater]

Amazing Evan! So glad you were able to ride it out.

[@JaredCurrent]

Wild how there was a sympathetic release on the slope behind the guide as well.

[@stephenwassinger5154]

You could tell by the wind crust at the beginning the snow was likely to be unstable. Lucky to be alive. The power of moving snow is immense.

[@user-ec5jq3np3d]

Best footage ever seen. This is going viral!

[@alanventuraa]

What a ride! Glad you’re safe

[@SamSkrocke-fv1em]

We watched this happen from the top of Mount Hayden. I'll keep my options to myself. We did get a great photo, that I can't seem to attach here.

[@CincyBearcats]

Please report this to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) if you have not already. As of 3/6/2024, I do not see it listed in the Colorado accidents table on the CAIC website.

[@n8omg]

TIL guided outfits and ski areas are not required to report to CAIC

[@rigdiy1107]

The ob was available earlier today. No longer available to the public. Bummer, as it's a pretty demonstrative case of persistent slab failure after multiple prior tracks. It read as follows: Observation Summary: 17th skier on the slope. Guide traversed as the 16th skier, across the slope and waited for their first guest. The 17th skier triggered and collapsed the slope, triggering the slide propagating above the skier. The skier was never under the snow. The guide traveled along the slide and told the skier to deploy their airbag. They did. The bag was never utilized or needed for flotation. The skier rode nearly 1200 linear feet. No gear was lost. No injuries. No burials. No other involvements. This slide or collapse, either remotely or sympathetically, triggered a second slide. The first triggered slide on a SW aspect at 12,600'. This we classified as R2-D2. 550' wide 900' vert. The second remote slide was east aspect, 800' wide, 900' vert. Route Description: Heli-ski operations in the area known locally as The Sound of Music

[@CincyBearcats]

@rigdiy1107, thanks for posting the observation. It’s a shame that it was taken down. Ironically, at 4:45 you can hear a client ask if the guide will send a report to the CAIC, and the guide clearly says that he will. “Yup, we’ll put this in.” @EvPowPMH, thanks for sharing your video so that the rest of us can learn from your experience. It’s not easy to expose yourself to the masses like this. I hope you’re able to ignore the trolls.

[@griffithd05]

Technically no one is "required" it's all just volunteer observations. @@n8omg

[@darrellerrad3945]

Why tf does it matter😂 more snow will fall that snow will melt it can happen at anytime. It’s also documented clear as day in the video above

[@JRastafari007]

thanks for your tourism dollars and we’re glad ya pulled through. see ya next year.

[@ewowen]

Thanks for sharing. A nightmare avoided!!

[@jonathanhull8492]

Glad you came out on top 👍👍

[@paultrudel9791]

Holy cow, you seemed calm as a cucumber, nice ride out and glad you stayed on top.

[@rportilla10]

WOW! what an experience!

[@28th_St_Air]

That’s what I call riding the mountain. The sound of the snow creaking and settling in at the end was also horrifying knowing that it may be the last thing you hear if buried.

[@cameddy4081]

Odd to guide where there is such obvious similar activity on same aspect slopes - lucky for client the thing didn’t step down and really go to the valley floor - kind of ran out of poop and just stopped ! Nice GoPro footage , amazing how little effort was put in to “swim” or arrest getting swept further - here’s a situation I would not just ‘go with the flow ‘ - wild how the wave comes up through the slab and debris as it’s moving - glad you are all ok 👍🙏🌏✌️❄️⛷

[@gvinoski]

looks like it released sympathetically

[@rifamycin]

I didn't see another slide as they were traversing the slope. I did see a number of other ski/snowboard tracks, probably from other groups that skied the slope before this group triggered the avalanche.

[@wyattgrose6439]

Thanks for sharing this. Do you feel like you would have sunk if it wasn’t for the backpack?

[@meiocheng817]

Glad you're safe. Thanks for that first person POV, never seen it that way before. Are you a lefty? The Mammut bag trigger can be moved to the other side if you're a lefty, I think. Depends upon which bag.

[@charliesschroedinger]

Insane ride dude. 😮

[@desireegoulett69]

Thank God that was not flowing over a cliff of any sort because a low one and you'd be buried, and obviously a high one you'd be broken & buried. Especially since you were along for the rider wherever it was going until whenever it stopped....yikes. Thanks for sharing & glad you were able to.😎

[@JS-yj7ow]

Holy hell! Lucky to be riding on top the whole way, but scary as shit to be locked in and watching the whole thing. Glad you stayed on top dude. Don’t know if I would have had the presence of mind to try to click out of my skis, or if it’s a good thing you didn’t.

[@SoulSkis]

That looks to be below 30 degrees. Amazed it slid like that.

[@darrellerrad3945]

That’s gotta be the coolest thing you could possible live through and have video proof of. Unscathed too, simply rode a magic carpet of snow for a couple hundred yards😂

[@ChrisOchs]

Did you get a "do over" on the run, since most of it was in the avy?? Or, do you get double credit for getting 2x the pow?? Haha... Loved my time last year with Hellitrax!!

[@TheDreamologist]

Yo I’m so happy you’re made it out unscathed.

[@andrewwallus847]

Damn! That thing propagated super wide. Glad you are safe. What was the guides assessment afterward? Looked like a lotta solar and possibly a trigger point near that thinly covered convex roll just before where you could start to see the failure happening. Headed to the San Juans in a week and trying to gather beta...

[@andrewwallus847]

Also: What aspect was this?

[@JoeSmith-ru9xu]

@@andrewwallus847 The dude was also skiing it like a ski cut (side slipping) over that thinly covered convexity. Not saying it wouldn't have gone on a lighter footed skier, but it may have had something to do with the trigger. Interesting how slow it moved and never picked up increasing velocity. Perhaps the temp of the snow and solar aspect like you mentioned contributed to it being not a very quick surface bed. Angle/Aspect? If homie pointed it and did a GS right hander to where the guide was, maybe he could've got off that dance platter.Maybe not. Fun stuff!

[@andrewwallus847]

Oh absolutely on all of that! I wasn't trying to evaluate HIS actions but would have offered the same. I was really just trying to gather snowpack beta for my trip to Silverton in a few days since it was so recent;) @@JoeSmith-ru9xu

[@Miderguy_]

Holy Balls!

[@troynoonerific9117]

I've seen countless avalanche videos...somehow, this is one of the most terrifying of the lot!

[@AlpineLifeProductions]

It's almost always that wind ripped stuff.

[@TEAMAGEPRODUCTIONS]

JUST WILD

[@georgiydavydov3144]

dude, I bet it was scariest rollercoaster ever. ufff

[@bertrenolds5]

you were far enough away from the guid but I wonder if someone was too close behind you? That wave that went thru the snow when it first broke was crazy.

[@AllenSmithe]

So surreal how it seems to just bubble up and freeze you in place before crumbling under then sliding in unison the rest of the way.

[@user-ek2xt4tn4c]

Wow! That was scary to even watch. I have wanted to Heli Ski and am an avid skier. I think I am going to pass.....it looked like you were going to get swallowed up! And literally trapped underneath it! So glad you got out! Thank you Jesus!

[@Pals777]

I wouldn't pay to heli ski that, however im a spoiled Alaskan thats lived in the chugach for over 30 years.

[@cdawg9149]

Did the slide in the background happen before ? I dont see it in the first part when he triggered the slide.

[@ttank7241]

do any outfitters do avalanche control before taking clients on the slopes?

[@robmac3287]

It freaked me out just watching it, let alone being in it.

[@richardtichy9586]

Huge slide. That the first skier (assuming the guide) traversing the face did not trigger the avalanche will make me think twice next time I am out in the backcountry. Glad you are ok, and thanks for sharing.

[@Odhege8262]

Just because there are tracks, does not mean it’s safe

[@kwoyna]

After deploying the airbag, get rid of the skis and poles asap. They will drag you down. Keep fighting to swim and stay on top of the snow. Do not worry about losing them; your life is infinitely more valuable.

[@mr.force1036]

Ride the wild avalanche 😎

[@dodoarmy8515]

smart move to pull the pack when you did, watched another similar video where the guy was waiting to pull it if he started to get in deeper

[@jimbedford201]

When skiing a backcountry slope in many areas of the San Juans, the snow either gets more stable or less stable. Often you can't tell the difference until you're at the bottom of a run or...

[@andygrisham]

The pioneers used to ride these babies for miles

[@mattchoppa66]

🪨

[@jxyzbyyy8567]

Yes, my parents used to ride these for miles too.

[@adamn9450]

How does the slide move up hill like that?!

[@andyclark4523]

It didn't. As mentioned above, "The whole slab is sliding downhill. The wave you see is the slab flowing over the staunchwall as it goes downhill."

[@cdawg9149]

Sometimes when Avalanches happen, the initial energy waves will send an Instagram to our parallel universe to activate. That enables anti gravity to take over for just an instant. Sending everything we know to reverse. Very rare this one was caught on camera.

[@heartbraden]

Fight ❌ Flight ❌ Freeze ✅

[@svsleipnir]

Yup...killed me to see how much time there was to ditch the skis but never made a move for em. Stay at the resort kook.

[@deedub3]

Jesus take the wheel!

[@8.o.clock.]

@@svsleipnir I mean, maybe, just maybe he's never been in an avalanche before.

[@BigTee612]

@@svsleipnirCurious, how many active avalanches have you personally been thru? Avalanches can occur within a resort during a beginner’s lesson. Considering he did not panic, stayed on top of the slide, and common sense took over, he could not have faired much better. Just how much “better” could the outcome have been in this situation if he removed his skis? At least he has documentation to learn from his experience. He lived to be able to post the video on KZbin. Well done.

[@svsleipnir]

@@BigTee612 more than I can count or remember. His dumb luck isn’t to be celebrated. Judging by the way he was skiing pre slide he has no business being on that terrain. The masking tape with his name in the skis indicates rental gear further reinforcing my hypothesis. Just because you can afford the heli doesn’t mean you should be skiing from it.

[@andrewmitchell5807]

Thats hella unfortunate cause it doesnt even look like the line was fun. Inconsistent melty crust ugh

[@greggoldman893]

Go buy a lottery ticket!!!!

[@BELAC43]

so sick to catch this on video

[@Deeeuce]

Holy SHIT

[@onesimpletrick]

Had it already slid on skier’s right when he led you down that section? Seems like a huge red flag to see another recent avalanche

[@birdsall]

It had not...I was on the run just before this one. You can see the guide and 1st skiier (This one) ran tracks higher than the previous 3 groups and it broke just above previous traverse lines...

[@johns8365]

Cool video. It still trips me out that Helitrax markets to intermediate skiers.

[@martineast1787]

Peppery pockets and obvious wind affect. Lots o money for those conditions

[@cabanford]

I thought you were going to the bottom of the valley

[@doesitmatter8866]

He still had momentum to traverse out to the right the moment it broke. Guess h just froze with fear the moment it broke. Helps to always, i mean ALWAYS go through what you would do in this case whenever you go out in the backcountry. Imagine where you would exit out of the run(into safe zones) every 50 yards or so, so its an instant reaction the moment the shit hits the fan.

[@ropo772]

No more powder today. To unstable.

[@Summitspeedfly]

You pay a guide so that WON'T happen.

[@jimmoses6617]

I lived in Silverton or a few years. Avi capital of the U.S. It's nutso. If you have a wife and/or kids, avoid that sh _ _ until they are old enough to fend for themselves.

[@corneliusblackwood9014]

Man, this guy got lucky. Looked fun though, a ride intop of a Lanch’ Not sure the emergency tug was needed but hey, I suppose better safe than sorry. Other people are right, horrible conditions, it was bound to happen with all that crusty garbage.

[@cdawg9149]

Air bag saves the day. I think the Air Bags should come with diapers.

[@xXpurplenurple007Xx]

Is this the guides fault?

[@AllenSmithe]

No. Any time you enter avalanche terrain you do so knowing the risks. Avalanche training is about making informed decisions and being prepared for the outcomes. No guide on earth knows with 100% certainty what the snow will or won't do, only what the best bets are. All things considered this wasn't a terribly deep break and judging by the speed the slope angle wasn't likely that steep.

[@AllenSmithe]

@@elhior23 "best bets" many taking all the available information into account and making decisions based on that information. Anytime you step into avalanche terrain, the risk is never zero.

[@rustyshackle917]

This is absolutely on the guide company. Red flags everywhere. Shows how money clouds judgement. Careful which "experts" you put your trust in. Sad that the CAIC swept this under the rug.

[@Simon-Simon-Simon]

the GUIDE must has shit himself with another behind him triggered as well

[@erikreilly9010]

Freaky perspective. Good share... looking at the turns made before the slab let loose leaves me wondering about the skills y'all apparently Don't have. Relying on a trigger..... learn to ski and all its environment

[@psclassy1123]

All the cool images you see when people are skiing does not show this. As big and important some people think they are Mother Nature does not care. Not worth it if you ask me for a few turns you could have done inbounds if your first on the lift.

[@aboulla]

The first thing to learn when doing free skiing : you are catched in an avalanche, try first to GET OUT OF IT ASAP. The guy should have taken some speed and go straight in front on the right side. He would certainly be able to escape from this situation. He was lucky that the avalanche did not continue and get for exemple to a cliff.

[@willhicks2259]

Its all so groovy ... till it ain't. All the "beta" in the world and I'm sorry to tell you its still a crap shoot. Is 8 inches of fluff really worth it ?

[@MakersTeleMark]

Nice ride. Too bad you just sat there like a lemming and took it.

[@joemclaughlin8657]

What should he have done?

[@MakersTeleMark]

@@joemclaughlin8657 First, point at a 45 or more and aggressively ski out, 2nd, get your skis off, 3rd, start swimming in a direction away to the side of the slide and actively stay above and be prepped for the burial, 4th, know your gear from the getgo and pull it immediately, 5th FIGHT, and SWIM and don't be a dead lemming in a very quickly setup canvas of your possible future death.

[@rifamycin]

@@MakersTeleMark It's probably the guys first time getting caught in an avalanche. Unless you have practical experience dealing with these conditions, on a regular basis, it'll take time for the brain to process what's happening, before taking action. You're basically expecting an expert response from someone who's not an expert.

[@onesimpletrick]

how did you take it? everyone’s a tough guy until you’re caught in thousands of pounds of moving snow