At your own risk
Feb 21, 2012, 8:59 AM | Updated: 9:03 am
Listen to Dave Ross Commentary: At your own risk
This has been a deadly week for backcountry skiers. Six killed in separate accidents — three in the accident at Stevens Pass.
Which focuses a lot of attention on this free-skiing culture which flirts with avalanches and skis over cliffs on purpose. They’ve turned the stuff that used to be illegal into a growth industry. There are all sorts of videos on the dangers.
But these victims weren’t crazy kids…these were all accomplished backcountry skiers; they knew the rules; they MADE the rules.
They used the buddy system, they crossed the dangerous slopes one at a time, they sheltered in the trees. And it still wasn’t enough. So why do they do it all?
Because for every safety video, there are many more videos like this.
What you see in these videos is a culture that values freedom more than it fears danger. And maybe it’s the soundtracks, maybe it’s the subzero rosy checks — but I have to say they look genuinely happy.
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Tune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.
