The video below should be an example of what not to do when you’re skiing the backcountry. I’ll let you read the video’s description, and watch the clip before we break down everything that went wrong.
I’ve set the video to start shortly before the actual avalanche. Please rewind to the beginning if you’d like to watch the video in its entirety.
Video caption translated from Polish to English using Google Translate:
“GoPro camera footage showing two skiers being kidnapped by an avalanche in the Slovak High Tatras. The situation took place on May 10, 2022, near Baranimi Rogami. Father and son started an avalanche while skiing and they fell about 150 meters with it.
The father suffered many injuries to his back, hip and thigh, his son was fine. There was no network coverage where they were staying, so the boy went down to Téry’s Shelter and reported the incident. Video posted as a warning with the consent of the participants of the accident.”
Thank god neither of them died, but where do we even start with the mistakes that they made?
For one, they shouldn’t have been skiing side-by-side in the beginning of the clip on avalanche terrain. That’s a big no-no.
Second, the father should have positioned himself in a less-exposed spot to observe his son as he traversed the mountain.
Third, and probably the most important thing to note, the father should not have attempted to ski the same route where his son had just been swept away by an avalanche. I’m sure his adrenaline kicked in, and he just wanted to go save his son, but he could have easily killed himself for being so foolish.
Please share this video with a friend as an example of what not to do the next time you’re out in the backcountry.
Stay safe out there, friends.