REAL TIME VIDEO of Avalanche and rescue

christopher · Mar 8, 2012

Avalanche, A Life Saved
by Trent Meisenheimer

A local snowmobiler and his wife set out for an afternoon of low angle riding on March 4th 2012. Planning to stick to mellow terrain they left their avalanche rescue gear in the rig. As they pulled up to Hoyt Peak they met another group they knew and started climbing a steep east facing slope. Tyson was the sixth track on the slope when it broke above him. He tried to throttle off the slab but got thrown from his machine and held onto the bumper, getting completely buried in a slight terrain feature at the toe of the slide.

Please enjoy this remarkable story.

Thanks to all who helped make this video possible.

You can find the complete accident report by the Utah Avalanche Center here: utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche_hoyt_peak_342012

http://vimeo.com/38078462

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/38078462?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="337" width="600"></iframe>Avalanche, A Life Saved from Trent Meisenheimer on Vimeo.

christopher · Mar 8, 2012

His guardian angel was watching over him.
25 minutes is a long time to do buried.

skidoorulz · Mar 8, 2012

He is a very very lucky man. And there were some good people there that did not lose their cool. Not to criticize but I saw 2 mistakes. Rider had no beacon. (hills are tempting no matter what your plan for the day) and there was a previous avy just yards away from where they were climbing.

christopher · Mar 8, 2012

How many times can it be said.

ALWAYS

WEAR

YOUR

BEACON

Tuesday · Mar 9, 2012

Glad that he lived.......but how did they even find him? He looked a long ways down so I cant imagine any body parts where sticking out......could they hear him?

aebsledder · Mar 9, 2012

skidoorulz said:
He is a very very lucky man. And there were some good people there that did not lose their cool. Not to criticize but I saw 2 mistakes. Rider had no beacon. (hills are tempting no matter what your plan for the day) and there was a previous avy just yards away from where they were climbing.

I saw three. What you said, and the first rescuer had to run back to his sled to get his shovel. The other thing I was wondering is if the first searcher, (with the helmet cam on) was the only one with a beacon? I am thinking either the others had theirs on search already (or off) or he was able to discern where a signal was coming from right away? If it was a really deep burial the proximity signal could have been very close to how far the other people were in the rescue.

MOSKIDOO · Mar 9, 2012

Wow!!!

I've watched this more than once and this video is one of the best out there, to learn from. I went for a cruise last Sunday with my 8 year old, left TekVest, Float 18 and beacon in the trailer.....posted pics of what happened. It's an "eye opener" considering I ALWAYS wear my gear that you have to be 100% every time out.

Watch the weather and forecasts
Get some training, the very least a video or book to read
Not only..."Have the gear"... But wear it.... "Always"!!!
(don't know how many times I've heard " That's never slid!")
Make sure your group or buddy are on the same page to all of the above!
If climbing, one at a time, while waiting.... "watch" the rider through
( you can see in the video he was with the sled and the first guy knew it)

And I believe this video should be handed out with every new mountain sled purchase, the very least.... Make it huge on YouTube or whatever to get it out there.
There are so many things to "learn from this video".........................breaking shovels, cheap probes, etc.......but the best.... Even though it "happened" they knew enough and saved there friend!!!

polaris dude · Mar 9, 2012

God I would love to hear how they managed to find him! That is crazy, they are lucky they had the man power to not only search for him, but have enough guys to dig fast enough and have replacements for the ones who got tired!

EEEK FACTOR · Mar 9, 2012

polaris dude said:
God I would love to hear how they managed to find him! That is crazy, they are lucky they had the man power to not only search for him, but have enough guys to dig fast enough and have replacements for the ones who got tired!

They managed to hit him with a probe....although succesful, this is a great video of what "not" to do...

christopher · Mar 9, 2012

polaris dude said:
God I would love to hear how they managed to find him! That is crazy, they are lucky they had the man power to not only search for him, but have enough guys to dig fast enough and have replacements for the ones who got tired!

If you don't have a beacon on you had better PRAY your riding with a large group and all of them know how to USE THEIR PROBES.

Going West · Mar 9, 2012

I just dont get the rational of leaving a beacon in the truck. It not even heavy or cumbersome. We run full gear including AVY bags no matter where we ride or the conditions. If you have it wear it and if you dont have, it get it, then wear it. If you can afford a sled and the Cash to go out then you can spare a little more to save you life or your buddies life.

phatboyfilms · Mar 9, 2012

Glad this turned out ok. Lucky he's alive, doesn't do it justice. it's easy to get complacent. Told myself a long time ago, I wasn't ever going to ride without my beacon shovel probe & avy pack, no matter where I was riding or how safe I thought it was. It's just easier for me to have it all the time.

My reply to "you think we'll need that today?" - If I really thought I was gonna need it, I'd stay home....

phatboyfilms · Mar 9, 2012

Btw, Thx for taking the time put this video together & put yourself out to be critisized for your mistakes. Helps people be aware of the reality of the backcountry & how we can be safer.

diamonddave · Mar 9, 2012

Pretty unreal stuff.

Great job, and I mean GREAT JOB to all of those involved with the rescue.

It's easy to point out mistakes when hindsight is 20/20 from a warm home behind a computer. The mistake is triggering the avalanche. After that is reaction. that is what my Avi instructors have said.

The first person as he was called in this thread or the helmet cam guy went immediately for his shovel AFTER he was told the rider buried didn't have his beacon on. I'm not going to fault him as from what I can tell appeared to be one of the first or maybe the first to search.

Not to mention, he provided some real life video which should benefit all of us.

Fast Freddie · Mar 9, 2012

AVY

Speaking from experince having a freind in one. The best thing about this video other then him getting out alive was what he said in the last minute of the video. CHECK REPORTS,DON'T RIDE WITH OUT YOUR AVY GEAR AT ANY TIME,GO HOME AND GET IT IF YOU RIDE, MAKE SURE YOUR GEAR IS UP TODATE AND GOOD.On the up note i'm glad it all turned out OK.Yes this should be part of all avy classes. There is a lot of good info. here to learn from. FF

Hilly · Mar 9, 2012

POWERFUL

Need a say more?

Thunderguy BOOSTED · Mar 9, 2012

wow... NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE? AVY GEAR ALL TIMES NO MATER WHAT!!

catmanm7 · Mar 9, 2012

Did he pass out while buried because the lack of air? How did he last 25 mins?
Not only wear your beacon and other gear, but make sure others do as well. Your beacon will not save your life if someone else doesnt have one to find you with. This guy will be :hail:

for awhile.... hope he doesnt make this mistake again. Very good outcome to a dangerous situation.

azzkicker · Mar 9, 2012

In the snow park if they dont have the gear they dont go w/ me....its not just their life its mine and now I got little ones at home thats a major factor I didnt have a few yrs back.

DanoXRS · Mar 9, 2012

phatboyfilms said:
Glad this turned out ok. Lucky he's alive, doesn't do it justice. it's easy to get complacent. Told myself a long time ago, I wasn't ever going to ride without my beacon shovel probe & avy pack, no matter where I was riding or how safe I thought it was. It's just easier for me to have it all the time.

My reply to "you think we'll need that today?" - If I really thought I was gonna need it, I'd stay home....

Well said!!! If you think you're going to need your avy gear...STAY HOME...or ride somewhere that you DON'T think you'll need it!

Dano.

REAL TIME VIDEO of Avalanche and rescue

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