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Subscribe to RSSA 24-year-old snowboarder has died after becoming trapped in an avalanche in a steep Utah backcountry area that the public was warned to avoid after potent snowstorms.
The death marks the ninth avalanche fatality in the West this season, and experts say the risk of additional slides could remain high all winter.
NBC affiliate KSL TV reported that Alecsander Barton was with two other men when the avalanche occurred Saturday morning in the Wasatch Range's Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City.
Heading back from Stewart, British Colombia, Aaron Garner captures a controlled avalanche technicians set off to clear a highway pass. TODAY.com's Dara Brown reports.
The other two — a snowboarder and skier — watched as Barton descended Kessler Peak and triggered an avalanche that carried him an estimated 2,400 feet, or half a mile, down the mountain. They found his body under three feet of snow about an hour later using avalanche beacons.
STORY: Avalanche danger across West is high
Experts say a weak base layer of snow, packed with large grains of ice, is plaguing parts of Utah, Colorado, Montana and California. They say these conditions could keep avalanche risks high for the rest of the season.
Helmet-cam video shows a snowmobiler caught in an avalanche in Washington State and his friends quickly rushing to his rescue. KING-TV's Jim Forman reports.
So far, four people have died in avalanches in Colorado, three on the Wyoming-Montana border and two in Utah.
Last season saw 25 avalanche deaths, and the one before saw 36.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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In a sense he left the world doing what he loved to do, but no doubt he left too soon. RIP.
I guess he won't get that ride posted on youtube.
It's comforting to see reinforcement of Darwin's theory. One more example of "it won't happen to me".
Every death is sad. Many who die, most actually, are innocent victims. But innocent victims are not the ones who simply seek thrills by engaging in very risky endeavors, especially once they have been warned of the dangers.
A pointless and senseless death. Hope others learn to think things through.
Hope he didn't suffer.
helluva way to go.
By the statistics, it looks as if snowboarders are getting smarter................................less deaths this year than the last two.
But then again, the winter isn't over.
Why is it so many people cannot heed warning signs? And then force others to risk life and limb to rescue them, alive or dead?
Not getting smarter. When the conditions are poor no one wants to climb a mountain to ski rocks or an ice sheets, it's the power they're after. More powder = more skiers = more avalanches = more death
Heed what warning signs? Were there signs posted that said today is a highly dangerous avy day? Pro Patrol are happy to do what they do, rescuing people is part of their job that they do so that many enthusiast can enjoy the mountain to it's full potential. The kid was with other people - beacons and all, so this is just an unfortunate accident.
I hope he had a great pow run on the way down and went out with a bang. RIP kid! RIP
Hmm, sounds like a warning to me. Skier/boarder beware.
oh.. I just watched the video, however did not read the article.. but still, people with experience know how to read conditions with tools and methods and such... but sometimes they make mistakes. Who ever posted warnings post them for the general public who really have no business in the BC given that they do not have any edu
I don't see anything wrong with what he did, he had a passion - and died doing what he loved...
Could quote how many times the weather forecasters say the same about driving due to weather conditions, getting to higher ground or out due to hurricanes, or you getting in your car and texting, or hell, getting in a car period. But hey, you are probably one of the intelligent ones that heeds all those advices because you sit on your ass at home. Right.
Thank you! My thoughts exactly.. RIP Alecs
Either they are getting smarter or the dumber ones have been killed off.
When you go to these areas and ignore the warnings.
When you go to these areas , They are usually marked as being
unsafe. Fools rush in and many times pay the price for being stupid.
They also endanger other people. Darwin at work.
be quiet - you have no idea what you are talking about... go sit on your lounger and eat a cinnabun
Read the article- it was in the BACKCOUNTRY- meaning undeveloped. Not a ski resort where they have patrols and check conditions and posted signs
Where a lot of folks go to get away from Alice's like you and dracula.
onemailliw, the article clearly stated "steep Utah backcountry area that the public was warned to avoid after potent snowstorms." That applied to the formerly alive snowboarder. I'll bet him and his friends have cheated life on a number of occasions since the rules didn't seem to apply to them.
I cant believe how heartless some people are. Someone lost their life. He has a family and friends that are grieving and I would certainly hope that if you ever lose a loved one that no one disrespects them in the way that you have disrespected this young man. You can go through your whole life following "the rules" and still end up with a similar fate. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this very difficult time.
Storme;
This is true, but why increase the odds for naught? If one feels the need to live life on the edge, join the military, apply for the Special Forces! At least in the event of ones sacrifice, it would be honored by those whom appreciate the reason.
But it was okay for this clown to disrespect the advice and warnings of the weathermen, snow field experts, etc.?
This guy got what he went after - some awesome snow conditions. The problem is that he was obviously not as good a boarder as he thought.
God created the internet so boarders and skiers could check on avy conditions before going into the BC.
The following from a recent Wasatch avy website:
QUOTE
..."It's pretty simple. High danger. It's like parking an Oldsmobile on top of a stack of champagne glasses. Stay off of, and out from underneath, steep slopes...."
UNQUOTE
Hey Dad---can I have the keys to the Oldsmobile?
We need strict avalanche and snow board control!
Right on we definitely need to fine those avalanches.
Controls and information were in place yet disregarded. Frankly, too many male 20-somethings think they're invulnerable. Check the stats and it's clear, within this demographic, avalanche safety education is too often an afterthought.
That's why you buy a lift ticket and ski at a resort....where there is avalanche control...when your in the back country...your on your own.
Well Matt, that's why you bring your snorkel, shovel, and beacon.
I agree with Work2ski, there isn't enough avi education, and far too often the ones who are educated don't dig any holes at all.
The solution isn't to never go into the backcountry, the solution is to be more aware of your environment.
You can spend your life in the valley surrounded by bubble wrap, safe in your hamster wheel existence, or you can go live, and find the true definition of freedom.
better soloution- bring dynamite, set off avalanche before you hit the slope. sounds nuts doesnt it? but its still no more risky than going to ski-snowboard in areas the public has been warned are at major risk for avalanches.
this person may very well have known about the risk, took a chance, gambled and lost.
at least he got to go out doing sometihng he loved, most of the rest of us will probably die in the lazy boy watching reruns...
There is only one majority race that feels they aren't living life to its fullest unless they put their very lives in dangerous peril for recreation. This includes sky diving, bungie jumping, rock/mountain climbing, and backcountry skiing/snowboarding.
Truly pathetic.
If going against all precautions is the only way for some to live life to the fullest, then I guess they do expect to die very early. Sadly, adrenaline junkies seem to have a death wish and sadly they do tend to die young. I feel very sad for the family and sad for the young man who died, although that seemed to be what made him "feel alive" - to tempt fate. He did that - and he lost this sad game these people play, as most of them do at some point.
I never feel bad for the victims when I read stories like this...
Make sure you give the families the bill for the recovery of their departed... They should have to pay up front for the recovery efforts or they can just wait until the spring thaw comes then go fight with the crows to retrieve their tasty pre frozen morsels from the snow....
richy johnson, that was a foolish remark!!!!
Foolish? More like it was mean, cruel and insensitive... But it is also true.
That's fine, you certainly aren't required to have compassion for your fellow human being.
Just don't expect others to care when you die.
I don't expect anything from anyone... If I am dead what do I care anyhow?
The recovery is for the families feelings... If they want the body back they should have to pay in order to have someone go get it...
If I get myself in trouble I should have to pay for any search and rescue efforts... If I am dead then so be it... The cost should still land on my estate or if I was a kid it should land on my parents..
Why should the Tax payers be held financially accountable or someone using their private resources not be re-embursed financially for some foolish buffoons who go out in avalanche conditions? They shouldn't... The families should be held accountable if they want the corpse back
Fair enough.
Something you may have overlooked in the article though, is that the people he was riding with were the ones to recover the body. So the cost to the taxpayers was zero. That's one of the benefits of avi beacons.
Interestingly, SAR generally doesn't cost very much. Especially if you figure it in a per-taxpayer basis. Medicare costs $800 Bn a year, would you also like to see that program disappear on the basis that it is public money going to privately caused health problems?
totally agree wit you rich johnson! send the fam's the bill for the body extraction.
Your are apiece of @!$%#. i can only hope someone crosses the yellow line tonight and takes you out while they walk away and they send your family the for cleaning your ass up. tough guy with a big mouth sitting behind your computer.
@robbie
Look dude, I know that when someone you know dies, and that news gets exposed to the uncaring masses, it can be hard to read.
Some people have no compassion for anything other than themselves. There aren't very many of them out there, but you may mistakenly believe that their opinion somehow has any sort of merit to other rational human beings.
It doesn't.
Chill out man. It will be ok. Ignore the haters. They do not possess the mental framework necessary to comprehend certain things. Nobody pays any real attention to them.
The large majority of us out there get it, and we do feel bad for all involved. Accidents suck.
Richard - It seems as though you hit a raw nerve. People take exception to a lack of compassion for those idiots who think they are invincible. You are correct in sticking to your position despite those objecting to your beliefs.
I agree. But this was no accident. Accidents are a chain of events that result in a negative outcome with unintended victims. A drunk running into another motorist isn't an accident for the drunk. It was a crash for the drunk. It was an accident for the victims in the other car. This clown didn't "accidentally" end up on the top of the peak and "accidentally" decide to board down. He got to think about the ultimate ride the rest of his life.
If you are wearing a locator beacon, you KNOW you're doing something you shouldn't be doing.
100% false.
not true however everyone has a resonibility to be careful and use what is avaible to stay safe
You are wearing yesterday's underwear, sitting on your couch eating your 3rd bag of potato chips which means any day you'll cost taxpayers $$$ by having fire department paramedics having to show up to your couch to revive your pos heart . And you have the nards to say someone else is doing somethng wrong. Classic.
Nice jon Jones, nice!!!!!!! So true... some people sit on their couch and criticize, they have no idea how beautiful life can be!
If this clown was wearing a beacon it obviously didn't work. It didn't keep him safe nor did it allow others to find him in a timely manner.
mhp: Most of the posters are not "haters". You mention "how beautiful life can be." Perhaps this is beautiful, but count on life being short. No one wants someone to die, but when one behaves in a way and does things very dangerous, then life will be short. It isn't an "accident", it is a "death waiting to happen."
Sucks to be them. Question for all the environmentalists, when you push snow down a mountain into warmer areas, does that snow not melt quicker than it would have, essentially defrosting the mountain. Wouldn't it be like leaving your refrigerator open, then wondering why there's global warming in the fridge.
Um, no. Try some physics classes
A true American idiot...........
Optomyst, Dracula, and especially, RichardJohnson: Your lack of compassion is only exceeded by your ignorance and undeserved smugness. My view is that the world needs all kinds of people, including those who have a passion for risk taking. If not for folks who are willing to push physical limits, we wouldn't have explorers, police, firefighters and other risk takers that we all benefit from. Just happens that this snowboarder pushed it too far. That's part of the risk. Would I have gone to an avalanche prone area to snowboard? No, but I'm not 24 anymore, either.
I hope the aforementioned commenters and others tempted to make jokes or sound superior in commenting to this tragedy take a hard look in the mirror and ask themselves "have I ever done anything stupid or risky?". If you truthfully answered no, then you are not really living in my view. If you answered yes, then you are no more intelligent than the unfortunate snowboarder, just luckier. Another human like all of us.
My condolences to the family and hopes to other young folks to consider carefully what risks they want to take.
You're right mike. There are places in the world for all of us. I went to school with Alecs. He was an outstanding gentleman that had a major passion for the outdoors. He died doing something that he loved, and that has to count for something. Prayers and condolences to both the Barton and Thorrez families for what they are going through right now.
My Dearest Mike...................It is not smug and superior when one is told not to do something or go somewhere and they still do it. It is not smug and superior to ignore safety warnings and then put others in harm's way because of an individual's self-centeredness and self-importance. It has nothing to do with age. It has nothing to do with exploring.
It has to do with the "It cannot happen to me" mentality and the false security these people are afforded by the attitude "Oh, if i get in trouble, someone will surely rescue me." Like the hikers who recently fell in Yosemite because they refused to pay any attention to signs.
If you want to go out there and do something stupid, by all means do so. But do not try to tell me nothing would get done unless people did stupid things.
It has nothing to do with courage.
You are a flaming idjut pessimist.
No, I am an intelligent realist.
your a @!$%#ing moron with a big mouth sitting behind his computer screen.
Opto - It pisses people off when you hit a truth they don't want to hear.
Some people have no concept of risk assessment, risk mitigation, or risk acceptance.
YOU can be a survivor and go around telling people not to do what you did and guess what?? They will IGNORE you
I know this for a fact because I was in an avalanche that nearly killed me as a student in a well known mountaineering class here in the PNW. The very next year i was on the same slope telling people NOT do what we did- glissade roped up in a dangerous chute above an unsafe runout- but some Hot shots did anyway and ended up repeating what we did the previous year but on a smaller scale. They only got scraped up pretty bad going over bare rock whereas we had burials after literally going over 50' cliffs
And sometimes little granny pulls out in front of a motorcycle too
Ban snow! Afterall it seems like it was a weapon here and we know how the butt-hurt left hates weapons
I bet you lose a lot of debates, huh. The good news is you probably don't even know it and go right on plodding long, blissful in your logic ignorance
Boarders are just too radical, epic and off-the-hook to be bothered with warnings. Oh well, stupid tends to thin its own herd. Darwin award winner of the season? I hope no one in the search and rescue community is injured locating the carcass of this genius. Oh and please send the bill to his "estate."
STFU
Meanwhile the cubicle church mice eat their own. God when I think of the memories I would not have but for risk, like going through the Grand Canyon in a wooden dory, John Wesley Powell style. Lava Falls rapid. Now THERE"S a thrill! As is climbing Mt Rainier or hiking the PCT
Or getting buried under three feet of snow and slowly suffocating to death over the course of an hour. Now THERE'S a thrill too. Personally, I'm glad I missed it. God when I think of the memories I would not WANT to have.....
Always a danger doing this stuff, RIP. Especially when you go for the ultimate run in the deepest powder. There is no glory for the faint of heart.
Or for the stupid.
Is it glorious to die so young? Is it glorious to put your family through this? Is this glory for that one moment of thrill......then death?
Never ceases to amaze me to read about a missing person, a death or injury over a selfish pursuit of adventure/rush....all at the expense of gov't agencies & volunteers who risk their lives to help or in recovery of the idiots at great expense. Anyone who elects to go against sound advice and reasoning should be required to post a bond or life insurance policy to the authorities to protect the tax payer dollar for being wasted.
The good get good by taking risks. Sometimes things just don't work out and you throw snake eyes. The hardest part for a close call survivor is to find the will to get back on the horse and get it right the next time. It takes true grit like that women (Kelly Brown?) who is in that Citibank commercial. But that assumes no snake eyes. There was video of her taking a fall and surviving without injury when she was 15. And what that rock climber did on 60 minutes is true grit beyond belief
What is usually the cause of death by avalanche, aspyxiation? Broken neck?
they need to make up a contraption that is made of plastic tubing......doesn' t have to be too wide....that
you can POINT UP and shoot it off......so you can breath.......if you are NOT unconscious you might be
able to get it to work. It is a sad deal......but what they do is dangerous/stupid...just like mountain climbing.
Mountain Climbing? What's the point? Just rent a helicopter, land yourself on top of it.....take some pictures
of you with some mountain climbing gear and tell everybody you climb Mount Everest!!1
They already make one, its called a AvyLung.
24 y/o snowboarder = Retard, Grow up ! get a job and quit living off mom and dad.
really? because you know the guy right??? Oh no wait, my wife and her friends went to school with him, but i forgot how smart you are sitting behind your computer screen talking @!$%# after someone just lost their son and grandson. You a piece of @!$%#. why dont you grab a shut gun and talk a nice run down a long staircase. @!$%#!!!
Are the beacons for search&rescue or for recovery of the body or both?
Both
Oh just ban everything. We as a people are idiots and obviously don't know when we are taking risks, so make it illegal. Snow is dangerous in more ways than one so make it illegal too don't forget to make wind,rain and ice illegal oohhhhh how about the sun. It is dangerous make it illegal and since people sunbathe on the beaches, make them illegal and......l
Scully, you just don't get it.
But for the grace of God go I. Amen. Even the most educated backcountry users are rolling the dice but the odds are worth the pay out. And to those that are saying that beacons are corpse finders you are wrong. You never see national headlines for swift and successful rescues, only tragic recoveries.
I jon, loved your reply. I am 72, retired vet. Sorry he was dumb as
a stump. Gotta love DARWIN.
you loved it huh? then according to that theory you need to go into the back yard and dig a hole to lay in because your old ass is far past being useful. thin the herd right??? @!$%#
Most of the posters here have no idea what they are talking about. This guy had the proper gear and just made a bad decision. There are inherent risks in everything we do in life.
My condolences to his family and friends. He went out doing what he loved.
Another idiot bites the dust.
At least he didn't take some one along with him.
I find it amazing that so many people don't know "The road less traveled is less traveled for a reason."
how about your go get drunk and take a nice long drive you piece of crap!