In hindsight, we got out onto what appeared to be a wind loaded slab, that initially fractured about a foot, then stepped down and propigated, probably to the persistent weak layer. Looking at the size of the slide, we are lucky to be alive. Mistakes were made, and I know I will surely learn from them, hopefully people reading this will too.

Snow community,

I am the skier that was involved in the avalanche on Mt. Aire on Saturday. I have been mentally and emotionally trying to unpack the experience since it happened, yet I am still a long way from home. I wrote about the experience on Sunday morning and want to share my story with you. Too often in life we are conditioned to shut out our emotions. It’s okay to be vulnerable. After all, we are humans and sometimes we need saving.

2/22/2025

Today I’m lucky, lucky to be alive. Yesterday I was involved in an avalanche; one that probably should have taken my life but somehow, I miraculously lived through. I was backcountry skiing with my friend Ben on Mt. Aire. We were touring up the ridgeline and intended to ski a mellow line near the subpeak. I was breaking trail in front and Ben was 20 meters behind me. As we neared the subpeak, I looked down and saw a crack propagating in the snow, which milliseconds later turned into a slab avalanche. The slab avalanche initially was about 12” deep, but it then rapidly stepped down to a deeper weak layer in the snowpack and the crown depth multiplied. The avalanche propagated across the ridgeline and the crown reached several hundred feet in width. I initially tried to anchor myself to the slope but was unable to. I was quickly swept off my feet and began cartwheeling down the mountain, accelerating faster than I could imagine, with an insurmountable mass of snow hurling me into the unknown. As I was being thrown down the mountain, my mouth and nose filled with snow and I smashed into a tree, then another, and another. How I didn’t die of trauma I do not know.

My skis eventually wedged between 2 small trees and the avalanche ran over me. The entire north face of Mt. Aire slid, and the mass of snow cascaded through the trees before it eventually came to rest at valley floor, some 1500 vertical feet below. When I stopped sliding, I was wedged between two trees with my legs contorted under a mass of snow and every orifice packed in snow. I was in shock. After clearing my airway, I yelled up to Ben that I was alive, and I was grateful to hear his voice; he was not carried in the avalanche. Ben skied down to me and tears began to flow. Ben and I spent the next couple hours getting off the mountain. We were slow. I was injured, I lost equipment in the avalanche, and I was so terrified of the mountain and the snow I was standing on that I was paralyzed.

We made it back to the trucks after some time and we both collapsed on the ground in tears. Physically, my injuries are minor and only include some bruises and a sprained ankle. Mentally, I am still a bit of a mess. Thoughts and visions of my kids flashed through my mind as I was catapulting down the mountain and being thrown into trees. I’m not sure why I was allowed to live yesterday. I’m not sure I will ever know. I do know, though, life is precious. Never take that for granted. I want to thank Ben, for without him, I would probably still be on that mountain. If you see Ben, give him a hug.

We went through a lot.

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