I thought of this incident when I first heard news of last winter's massive avalanche in the Tunnel Creek drainage near Stevens Pass, Washington, which swept up four expert skiers and killed three. When I heard that former 国产吃瓜黑料 assistant editor Megan Michelson had been with the party of 15 skiers involved, I was shocked. Megan is one of the best skiers I know, an athlete who has spent hundreds of days in the backcountry. That a group she was with could be taken by surprised seemed impossible to me.
We're fortunate to have Michelson's incredibly honest firsthand account of the tragedy in this month's issue (“Tunnel Vision”). Michelson remembers having concerns in her head鈥攁bout the conditions and about the group鈥攊n the hours leading up to the tragedy, but she never voiced them. Back in 2002, I remember being similarly anxious about snowpack in the Sangre de Cristos, but I didn't speak up, either, relying instead on the wisdom of the crowd. These two experiences reveal a hard truth that is already changing the way professionals teach avalanche safety: knowledge and experience are vital, but whether you're an expert or a beginner in the backcountry, your behavior inside of a group is your most reliable safety precaution.