Wild sequence from the slopes of Patagonia, Argentina of a snow-scooter rider who took an unexpected tumble after inching his way out on a fragile cornice.
Mirko Luqe is a hardcore Argentinian snow-scooter rider who spends his winters shredding the Andes on his purpose built winter scooter. While you may think of snow-scooters as toys for sledding hills, they are actually quite sophisticated devices engineered to mimic the geometry and feel of a pavement stunt scooter, allowing riders to perform barspins, tailwhips, and massive air tricks directly on ski resort slopes and terrain parks.
Luqe was on the slopes of Cerra Bayo Ski Resort above the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi in southwestern Argentina and was peering over the edge of a cornice to a scope a line through the freshly fallen powder when the cornice suddenly collapsed sending him on a uncontrolled descent.
Thankfully the Luqe managed to stay above the falling debris and avoid a burial but he could have very easily ended up submerged.
Cornices form throughout the winter on the leeward sides of wind-exposed ridges and summits and be anything from small lips to massive structures the size of a house. Cornices can be quite fragile and can give way when people walk on them. Getting sent over a ridge by a falling cornice can be dangerous and can trigger avalanches on steep slopes below. If you are in the area of a cornice this winter make sure to give it an extra wide berth and limit your time on the slopes beneath them.
Colorado Avalanche Information Center: Treatment and Avoidance
Cornices can never be trusted; and hence, avoiding them is necessary for safe backcountry travel. While moving along ridge lines stay well back from areas with cornice formation. Cornices often overhang the ridge edge and added weight can release the cornice, often from a remote distance. If necessary, use a probe pole to determine the existence of hard ground underneath the snow. Avoid areas underneath the Cornices. Even a small Cornice Fall can trigger a larger avalanche that runs far downhill. Large Cornice Falls can easily crush and kill a human. The spring season, or any period of significant temperature warm-up, are times to be particularly aware. Large Cornice Falls are most common during these weather regimes.
