 Poster: A snowHead
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A serious avalanche has buried between two and five skiers on a slope near The Canyons ski resort, Utah. A rescue and recovery operation is in progress.
The incident was 'almost inbounds' at the top of 9990 lift.
Report from The Denver Channel. com.
[Mod: intro. text at top of this posting was added to comprex's initial report, and this thread was moved from Piste to News]
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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not something you see very often on on-line articles but a good idea. And at the top there is a history of updates.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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More on this from the Tribune Review. The rescuers are now saying "more than 2" are buried in the avalanche but the exact number is not yet known.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Confusion over numbers missing is inevitable in this type of incident. This latest report from the Associated Press for KVOA indicates that two to five people are missing. The recovery has been suspended overnight.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Latest reports indicate that 5 skiers are unaccounted for. See New York Post snippet.
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It's easy to ignore the immense effort needed by the volunteer rescuers to deal with a big avalanche like this. I read somewhere that their 20ft probes are too short to deal with the mass of snow in that bowl. All hats off to them - it must be very hard to keep your spirits up when hope is exhausted, but I guess the families of the victims will want their loved ones found before the spring thaw.
Even harder when you don't know how many victims you're looking for. How can they ever be sure, in a situation like this?
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One body is now reported found at the avalanche site, and a debate has sprung up about whether ski areas should be proactive in forbidding use of the backcountry in dangerous conditions. The issue of whether to fence or not to fence, and whether or not to issue enforcement tickets to violators of ski patrol instructions is a hot one. There was initial concern about the safety of the rescuers, in the face of the threat of secondary avalanches (which were then blasted).
Here's a transcript from a KSL TV report in Salt Lake City.
Ironically, it is Ski Safety Week in the States, and things are off to a 'poignant' start with these fatalities and two skiing fatalities in Colorado over the weekend.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I think I know where this is. If it's the area I'm thinking of then it's very accessible and pretty heavily used. The warnings were always enough to deter me though.
Sad news.
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In Vermont, a crackdown is threatened on skiers who cross warning signs and get into trouble in the back-country. This report from today's Boston.com.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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An update on the situation in Utah, from ABC News yesterday. The warning signs which the skiers may have ignored are shown in the photo.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I don't think those signs could be any more obvious 
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A clear and poignant explanation of the clash between clued-up back-country skiers and simple thrill-seekers, from today's New York Times. [Site may demand registration]
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FAQ
Very sad espcially when the reports indicate that the chance of avalanche was high, and they are in an area marked by a skull and crossbones and a warning that you could die, I guess some people ignore warnings at their peril 
