Shuksan Arm | Avalanches
This past Friday at Mount Baker many people witnessed more avalanches in about one hour than some see in an entire season. There were some very high winds the day before causing all of these north facing leeward slopes to develop a 10-18 inch slab that was extremely sensitive to human triggers. It was a great wake up call to the reality these present and also a huge lesson in how avalanches break and move. Humbling & exhilarating to watch. Luckily no one was hurt or injured that day.
Wow! Awesome G!
Great photos!
Would it be possible to use some of them in the Level 1 avalanche courses I teach?
Cheers,
I made a short video of some of these riders dropping in that day: http://www.vimeo.com/10858361. Amazing that nobody got taken out that day!
[...] de fotos op de website van Garret Grove. Er zouden geen gewonden [...]
Awesome, but beautiful.
Technically a very nice light and contrast.
Garrett,
Where these skiers’s/rider’s models, or where you just shooting random folk’s?
Garrett,
I LOVE the B/W shot’s, but I gotta ask: Where these folks friend’s/model’s, or where you just shooting random folks?
What was that? Can’t take a compliment?
Oops, forget about the previous! Now I can see my message is still ‘awaiting moderation’.
Michael they were mostly just riders and random folks that I knew but definitely weren’t set up shots. The avy danger was high that day but also very manageable and predictable. Many people were “playing with fire” but I think that it was in a fairly “safe” way. Made for some dramatic shots that is for sure!
While the avalanche danger is often manageable being in the middle of a slab like this is not really managing your risks. As a photographer, these are truly awesome photos. But also as an avalanche professional I worry about what statements like “playing with fire” in a fairly “safe” way sends to the community of casual backcountry users. I worry about people witnessing stuff like this and thinking “see, you can make it out ok”.
These people were lucky – and definitely not playing it all that “safe”.
Great shots! Wow! I’ve got the same question as Ed – any chance I can use some of these photos in avalanche courses that I teach?
Garrett,
Great, great shots. Nothing like being prepared and being in the right place at the right time.
G-pa