The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek: Disaster on the Mountain | The New York Times

[@kootenaybackcountryguides432]

An incredible article that I am going to use as an educational tool in my Avalanche Education Courses here in British Columbia. As always, KZbin comments show just how sad a world it is with people commenting and criticizing others as if they know better. No one deserves to die and the families were left to deal with the aftermath. Leaving comments blaming the victims is a sad way to live a life and does little contribute to the educational value of such a video. I wish people would think before they left trolling like comments on videos that deal with tragedy, maybe ask yourself "is this comment meant to make the world a better place?" Otherwise, you are probably doing the opposite.

[@robertstv8045]

Well said.

[@jamesmorgan1967]

Amen.

[@mtadams2009]

I had a feeling the comments would be bad, more like pathetic. I wonder how many have ever really skied or been in the backcountry.

[@HieronymousLex]

Scott Gibson clearly none. These people act like you could survive any disaster if you knew whatever arbitrary thing they think they would have done better. I definitely question how many of these insensitive jerks even ski at all. They seem to not understand the weight of an avalanche and what that can do to you

[@chloehennessey6813]

Kootenay Backcountry Guides fresh snowfall and they go into avalanche prone area?

[@teamdeadly]

A great interactive article to which this is just a short video. The first time i skied the backside of Stevens I was with a group of 8 including 4 ski patrollers. One of the best runs of my life. Condolences to all that were lost.

[@deanbell4070]

Tye creek! I remember that day 😢

[@CanadianPodcast]

Wow, I just stumbled across this - I’m fascinated by the composition of this article.

[@rln970]

Fantastic documentary. Very well done. Reminds me how much I loved skiing.

[@DjBall]

The multimedia piece by the Times was well done. Thank you for this.

[@ryanpiuma]

I just read the full article. Incredible journalism, sad story. Thanks for the work that went into this. Anyone considering backcountry skiing should read the full article.

[@mikehawk8276]

That ski pole moment lets me know deep down always trust your gut instinct

[@guesswhaturit2197]

sorry for these losses.. so sad for the families

[@jsmithepa]

The NYT multimedia piece was well done. I loved how the illustration scrolls as one progresses on the story. Pulitzer.

[@gotyoazzleakin9860]

Rest In Peace. Stevens is my home mountain

[@markabendroth1774]

RIP to all who perished. Mistakes were made but hopefully learned from for others.

[@thegamerboneless2864]

Backcountry boarding on fresh snow is like strolling through heaven. Danger and all it’s one of the greatest joys in life. This is sad, but rarely happens. I don’t wanna say if mistakes was made or not, I wasn’t there. Rip to all who lost their life.

[@spellboundbythedevil4743]

May these men rest in peace ✌️

[@sallythescorpion]

Perfect example of the “group think” mentality. Definitely feel for the families of the 3 people that were killed.

[@bdb3011]

After 16 years in the ski industry, I've actually come to a place in my life where I don't blame ignorant people like tillallareoneluv for their interesting comments. This person can't help that they have no idea what they're talking about. "locator beacons"... really...?

[@chloehennessey6813]

bdb3011 That’s what they’re called in Alaska. State troopers recommend you stop by their office and sign one out any time you’re planning on taking a trip like this, boat, plane what have you. PLBs, EPRBS.

[@TheJeffDing]

@@chloehennessey6813 Avalanche transceivers are used for partner rescue. Devices like PLBs are completely different

[@lchaney]

Hm, just because they don't use the same terminology as you, they're ignorant? I BET you still knew what they were referring to.

[@realist7190]

Unfortunately, several of these people are not skiing professionals as claimed, avalanche beacons are to be worn on your person, (this is not negotiable and are to be tested). Now days avalanche packs are an absolute must for back country or out of bounds travel. And one person in the group was saved by her pack! A quick snow pit would most likely have averted this disaster which again is standard before going onto an unknown slope out of bounds with deep fresh snow. Sad lessons to learn! My condolences and prayers go out to the wives and children of the survivors.

[@bennettwilliams6628]

Realist keep in mind this was like 12 years ago they did not have the same airbags and Equipment

[@KyleMoran626]

@@bennettwilliams6628 the avalanche was 7 years ago. Regardless, the people who passed away would not have survived. Their bodies were contorted and Jim died within seconds

[@HieronymousLex]

Here we have a “skiing professional” in the KZbin comments thinking anyone can survive any avalanche automatically by having the right gear. Moron

[@Amperland]

@@KyleMoran626 we can’t say they would have survived but we can also not say they would have died. If they floated higher in the avalanche they could have possibly avoided being crushed. Terrain traps are still always there though.

[@Lacocacolaman]

I'm too poor to afford to die this way. 😢

[@DaveNash]

lolol

[@Lacocacolaman]

@@DaveNash no one makes a documentary about us dying in the hood going to the good taco spots.

[@lchaney]

Then you're too poor to go skiing in the first place. It's a rich kids sport.

[@Lacocacolaman]

@@lchaney right, it's literally what I said. Why you finna rub it in Dogg?

[@lovinlife4ever]

Weird that the guys that took the conservative line had to dig into his pack for his beacon...

[@craigbosko2229]

Lack of knowledge, I ran into a snowshoer last season at Stevens Pass,WA going backcountry (skyline) with 6 other women,her Transceiver was in her backpack turned off.No Avalanche coarse,none of them,no training of anykind and she had asked me if there are any signs (imfomation) in the backcountry, I told her,"No, your on your own"! There's no nothing! She said if they need any help they can get it from Stevens Pass Ski Patrol and I said true but they also can charge you ,$1,000.00 and that's for starters,they just walked away. The season was January 2021.

[@michaeldelarue4669]

From the NYT article they all did beacon checks at the top and all of them beeped on except one lift worker, so he must have had it switched on in his backpack which is better than it could be. That's still not such a good idea if your backpack gets ripped off.

[@craigbosko2229]

That's one thing I'll NEVER understand in life, carring your AVALANCHE Transceiver in your backpack and it turned off. Just having it in your backpack is bad 👎 enough. You wear it under your 1st layer, in the harness, period.

[@thepaulhowell]

Please don't get me wrong: I feel much compassion for them and their families and friends. Yet, the quote: "We weren't looking for the extreme thrill. We weren't looking to defy the odds." They saw the signs, went past the warnings, knew the extreme danger and wen't anyway. Extreme sports takes a certain psychological mind.

[@someotherdude]

Totally, completely. You are correct. It's very sad, but they clearly took a dangerous gamble, knowingly.

[@shivagh6965]

Always listen to your heart ,intuition has got all the answers. Heart calling ❤️heart calling 🖤heart calling 🖤❤️

[@theeoarsman921]

What a load, when you enter the back country you are looking for the extreme thrill and you should be well versed in avalanche safety and recovery!!!

[@fredeschen3783]

There was ski patrollers and many of the people had various levels of avalanche training. All were experienced.

[@samuelmilton1436]

One Year anniversary!!!! We MISS YOU ALL!!!!

[@audunl724]

Steve? what’s your problem?

[@joshgabrielll]

@@audunl724 He accidentally swallowed some snow don't mind him

[@samuelmilton1436]

I was at Stevens 5 days after the avalanche and it was weird without Chris on the mountain!!!! RIP to all that died that day!!!! I'm going to Stevens & Mt. Baker this weekend!!!!

[@jamielancaster01]

Airbag saved Elise’s life!

[@starbolin]

I've been on the rescue/risk my life to save others side and I didn't feel put out or burdened. I was just helping fellow outdoors people.

[@craigbosko2229]

Any help is always helpfull 😊👌⛷️🍊🏂❄️

[@TheNWaite]

@2.44 '' ...we knew it was higher avalanche danger but we decided it was OK...''. Keep on knocking on deaths door and eventually it will open. I sympathise with those families who have lost loved ones but we're all accountable for our actions and the decisions we make. Ski back country in ''high avalanche'' periods then the odds are stacked firmly against you.

[@thepaulhowell]

Please don't get me wrong: I feel much compassion for them and their families and friends. Yet, the quote: "We weren't looking for the extreme thrill. We weren't looking to defy the odds." They saw the signs, went past the warnings, knew the extreme danger and wen't anyway. Extreme sports takes a certain psychological mind.

[@cababyboomerq6012]

Is skiing in the back country considered living on the edge? I am not a skier.

[@craigbosko2229]

Weather you ski or snowboard,snowshoe,snowmobile or whatever, Backcountry is Backcountry is Backcountry,It's all the same philosophy,the same SAFETY EQUIPMENT the same snow pits, it's no different, there's a right way and wrong way.

[@craigbosko2229]

No, just because a person or a group of people goes backcountry doesn't mean there's going to be a avalanche, that's why people that go backcountry ALWAYS WEAR a backpack with a avalanche probe, shovel, snow saw, snow study kit AND WEAR A AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER AND EXTRA BATTERIES AND KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR EQUIPMENT.

[@jebbuckerson]

The crew that went right tempted fate, and fate won. Anyone familiar with mountains knows that steep, long couloirs are swept tree-free by avalanches, rockfall and rushing flood water.

[@craigbosko2229]

Sorry but the time me and my friend went to TUNNEL CREEK (98-99) my friend had snowboarded there 6-10 times,so I remember vic going to the right.Vic had checked the avy forcast and we made 2 snow pits and everything checked out a.o.k.- but we went to the right and never saw any creek but would go one at a time.Made it to the bottom,snow was close to 3 feet deep,had avy equipment everything.We did a total of 3 tunnel creeks that season.And to this day, I still remember the route and going to the right,if I did it right now, I would go to the right.

[@tomperkins5657]

You walk past and hear the beep, you ARE in extreme skiing. I gave up motorcycles when I got married and had kids. One side says don't judge. The other side says it's your family. And don't give me this bull...that they died doing what they loved.

[@mitchelllawrence5086]

“Who am I to say you can’t come, that’s not what skiing is all about.” that’s not what backcountry skiing is all about.....

[@SamClarkschannel]

RIP brothers

[@SamClarkschannel]

So edgy. #badass

[@Duke4TW]

Real sad story.

[@jdawgg7865]

0.52 this is what I tell girls

[@mallesjim]

RIP Boys!

[@dashag8724]

Wow! Sad:(

[@Muush]

480p... wack

[@alexh5725]

The video was made 9 years ago, 7 at the time you commented. You do realize that cameras have gotten better over time, right?

[@Yoadavator]

they sound like good people. you do not.

[@lukehotty257]

?

[@england670]

This makes me sad

[@ImaMonaKnight]

💔

[@golsonmoldon9455]

Beacons to search Bad words

[@samuelmilton1436]

I live in Denver and I snowboard in the backcountry all the time and I've seen avalanche's before!!!!

[@audunl724]

Steve hating yourself is not a reason to say that to someone

[@samuelmilton1436]

VERY SAD!!!!

[@techspins]

Ah

[@khatheejaa8530]

Hi

[@JC-jb1mn]

Thank God. You ALL survived! Praise God ❤

[@thepaulhowell]

Uh...God spared thirteen of them and God killed three of them...

[@savedbygrace6076]

I never like skiing I like it a whole lot less now PS don't ever invite me skiing anywhere anytime or any place

[@515ventures3]

That is until you "kiss the devil on the lips"

[@Rogsterius]

Stevens pass haha! Sufjan Stevens made an awesome album titled "The Avalanche".

[@ayxzer3226]

Wingborg Check out Stevens pass avalanche videos.

[@masonsyoutubeworld1917]

I’m from New York

[@CatatonicImperfect]

oh wow. really? that's crazy.

[@PattyBorgesPLR2013]

🇧🇷🤗

[@naidegd3079]

I knew 4 of the people who died, johnny brennen was my best friends dad :/

[@benjammin9276]

That would be hard as only 3 perished... Brenan, Jim Jack & Chris Rudolph.

[@audunl724]

Why lie about that? NaiDe?

[@roofall247]

Very sad video that should have more to teach people in the future about staying alive the resort should def be held accountable.

[@crazedmodder]

Nope, the resort should not be responsible as long as the information they supplied was accurate (e.g. dangers, etc of venturing into the backcountry).

[@sydnerella24]

Why would the resort be accountable? They chose to go there knowing the dangers. It’s nature the resort had nothing to do with it.

[@lello333]

well this is the risk u take for ur passion, NAture is beutiful and i needs to be respected more, if u care about ur life, so no cry for this people, no RIP, is theyr choise to live or die. and they choose to die.

[@MegaBanne]

It was a foolish behavior that killed them and not a conscious choice. They obviously didn't think it was as dangerous as it was. Otherwise they wouldn't have done as they did.

[@ronnieliss496]

What a horrible thing to say. No good person deserves to die. We all do something foolish grom time to time. I wonder how ud react if one of ur loved ones passed and someone said, "dont mourn them". Ur the problem with the world.

[@srso4660]

I'm guessing english is not your first language...

[@chloehennessey6813]

Ronnie Liss Eh you’re putting words in his mouth. He didn’t say anything about deserving to die- that’s your emotions, not his words. He simply stated they knew the danger and went any way. So yes in a way they chose to die.

[@chloehennessey6813]

Ronnie Liss PS. You are the problem with the world. You lead with your feelings instead of the facts infront of you. Like his words; you twisted them into what YOU wanted to see and not what was said.

[@Salem-dz7zw]

R.i.p Jim Jack (cause of death: plummled by snow) his body was crushed into a ball, His feet dangling over his head

[@vidpromjm]

Could an air bag have made it survivable? Kept him on the surface above the main violence? The female pro skier was found near him so presumably went through a similar experience but had deployed her avie bag and survived.

[@ellis5446]

get rekt

[@audunl724]

?

[@Diego.fromheaven]

Wtf you need to behave

[@runswithbeer]

I just don't feel sorry for these idiots that choose to do dangerous things and ruin their children's lives.

[@mikenagle9931]

Useful critique of such avalanche accidents does not include insults or placing blame on the victims. Why not be useful?

[@craigbosko2229]

Driving a automobile,your risking your life 50/50, what's the difference!

[@maxl899]

@@craigbosko2229 What about driving your car on a bridge where there is a sign “ caution, it can collapse any minute” ? That’s the difference!

[@Furyan]

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. They knew the risk of going that dangerous route and paid for it. Is it really worth going down a dangerous mountain if you can easily die there? Idiots don't value their lives very much.

[@kootenaybackcountryguides432]

I wonder why the same thing does not get said for people driving cars on fast highways. Would someone say this about you if you died in a car crash?

[@mikenagle9931]

Says the guy who texts on the freeway.

[@ml.9746]

Says they guy wasting away at his desk job never experiencing something great. Well besides last Thursdays football game.

[@dynamo3059]

gotta agree tbh, middle of nowhere back country. they knew the risks. this is like going to helmand afghanistan and being surprised that you end up shot.