Two skiers and three
snowboarders have died on Mount Bachelor from
either falls or collisions since 1993, according
records kept by The Bulletin, but the recent suffocation
of a snowboarder after sliding head-first into
a tree well was a first.
"We've never had an incident like this,"
Mount Bachelor Mountain Manager Matt Janney said.
"We've had collisions and falling, but we've
never had a person go into a tree well and suffocate."
The recovery of 22-year-old Kate Svitek's body
on Monday from under 9 feet of snow in an expert
portion of the ski area near the Northwest chairlift
has many asking questions about why and how the
woman died and what, if anything, can be done
to prevent similar deaths.
Svitek, who was last seen Feb. 9 boarding with
friends at the ski area, is believed to have caught
the front edge of her snowboard and then to have
fallen five to six feet into a tree well where
she was knocked unconscious, Deschutes County
Medical Examiner Laura Robin said Thursday.
There was no sign that Svitek struggled prior
to her death, Robin said.
Janney said snow and ice from the tree's branches
then fell on top of her.During last year's ski
season, 11 million people hit ski slopes around
the United States, and 35 skiers and 12 snowboarders
died - which is 4.27 fatalities per million, according
to the National Ski Area Association. More than
6,000 skiers and snowboarders visit Mount Bachelor
daily during its winter visitor peak.
"Snowboarders suffocating have happened in
the past (at other ski areas), and it probably
happens depending on how heavy the snowfall is
throughout the East or West," Janney said.
And, he noted, suffocation deaths are more likely
to happen to a snowboarder than a skier because
of the binding configuration. "You have the
possibility that a ski binding may come off or
you may have enough movement to twist a foot and
come out of the ski binding, whereas in snowboarding
your feet are strapped in, and you have to physically
release the straps with your hand to free the
feet on most snowboards."
Svitek was buried vertically in the snow and the
tip of her snowboard was spotted by searchers
after warmer weather reduced the snow base by
about 20 inches. She was found with her feet still
strapped to the board. In Svitek's case, however,
it likely would not have made any difference if
her feet were freed from the board because she
was unconscious, Robin said.
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Svitek was boarding
with several friends, and Janney said: "They
were doing the right thing out there. But they
got split up by one bowl and lost visual contact
and a serious accident occurred in that time."
Robin said the only way Svitek might have survived
after going into the tree well is if someone had
dug her out.
However, Hoodoo Ski Patrol Director Jon Battey
said snowboarders are not the only ones at risk
of suffocations. "It could happen to snowboarders,
skiers and snowshoers if they tripped and fell
in a tree well."
Battey said three wells develop as branches from
the trees deflect snow from around the trunk,
creating a hole. The trunk also tends to melt
the snow, which can help create the well. Wind
can also blow snow out and around trees. Trees
also collect ice during storms as wind deposits
moisture from the air on them, he said. "That
stuff can be just as heavy as ice (on the ground),
and you can have that weight on there."
That snow and ice, such as in Svitek's case, can
then dump around the tree well when disturbed.
"You've got to know your limits and not get
dragged up in pack mentality of let's go bigger
in jumping or on more difficult or steep trails."
Battey said.
Tom Peterson can be reached at 541-383-0304
or tpeterson@bendbulletin.com
Article Insert:
Snowriders should be cautious
Snowboarders and skiers need to respect their
environment when heading out to take some jumps
or float through powder, ski patrol officials
say. "If you are off in a heavily treed
area, you need to use a buddy system and have
a plan in advance and have some tools."
Said Mount Bachelor Mountain Manager Matt Janney.
"You have to load up the chances (of survival)
on your side." Here are some tips to stack
the odds in your favor in the event of an accident:
·Ski with a buddy when getting off the
beaten path. Stay within eye contact and plan
out stopping points along a trail in the event
you get split up.
·Carry a cell phone, a whistle or a two-way
radio to alert people in the event you are trapped.
·Pack some food in the event you get
stranded and have to wait for help.
·Check the snow levels and conditions
before taking a run to better gauge the caution
needed. In a couple feet of snow, for example,
the likelihood of getting trapped under snow
is much smaller than when there is a 150-inch
base.
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