Quebec — Backcountry skier Félix Savard-Côté has grown a big following on social media for his adventures in the Chic-Choc Mountains of Quebec. While he’s had countless adventures, he didn’t experience a backcountry skier’s worst nightmare until this month.
Recently, Félix triggered an avalanche while skiing down a narrow chute. After the avalanche strikes him, he starts to tumble down the mountain. The slide eventually stops, and Félix luckily only suffered an ankle injury. He lost one of the skis in the debris, but he luckily wasn’t fully buried by the avalanche.
He provided more perspective in the comments section of the post:
“The day of the incident, I started early to avoid the heat for multiple reasons: stability, snow travelling and ski quality. I did one run to assess the snow. No red flags, but I still had that gut feeling. The storms in the days before had been big. On my second lap, I met two other skiers, and further down, four more. That was enough for me to give them space and go for one last line before heading home.
If I had been alone in the bowl, I probably wouldn’t have gone for that particular line. Skied that line a lot in the past. I checked the entrance, did a ski cut, and dropped in. The snow quality was amazing, I had big skis, and I was riding fast. From what I understand, nothing from my couloir or entrance released. But while skiing down, I triggered a large slab to my right.. one I couldn’t see. It’s hard to say which turn caused the release….or it was just meant to release?
My line ended in a main drainage. I should have done a shoulder check, something I even do in the summer to watch for falling rocks. But not this time. That slab caught up with me incredibly fast. It would have been easy to avoid with just a glance over my shoulder. I had no doubt in the moment. I was going fast and ready to react to something under my skis, but not to something coming from the side that fast and big.
It was a complex situation, and I made a mistake while skiing. My ankle.. well, both my ski bindings were locked with high DIN settings. They both released, but one took longer. In the end, I came out on top of the debris, legs free of any snow.
I can’t say I enjoyed the experience, but I can say I’m glad it happened to me. I’m not traumatized by it. I think it’s normal. ‘Skiing is still the most beautiful way in the world to waste time.’-Glen Plake.”
This situation serves as a poignant reminder to bring the proper gear with you into the backcountry, and try to go with a friend. Because no matter how experienced you are in the backcountry, you never know what can transpire.
Image/Video Credits: Félix Savard-Côté
