Avalanches are scary. We all know that. Even when we think things are safe, there’s still the chance an entire slope can give away, carying rider, board and life in an uncontrollable mess down the mountain. That’s why most people are so cautious in the backcountry. The mountains are the boss. Well, kudos to snowboarder Bruce Johnston for posting this video above from an avalanche he encountered in the British Columbia backcountry.
Johnston, not the notorious criminal, knows his way around the high country. He had an inkling that this particular face would slide, so he planned his route accordingly.
“The purpose of posting this is to inform people in our area of the unstable snow pack,” he wrote on Instagram. “Read your local avalanche forecast and learn from your mistakes: I had a strong feeling this was going to slide, I had my safety exit to my right. I chose to ride it anyways, it slid, I went right, and all was good. YES, I was aware of the terrain trap at the bottom. Although, I did NOT think it was going to break six-feet deep and hundreds of feet long to my left. Not much else to say, we take calculated risks when we play in the mountains. Stay safe out there friends.”
His post got mixed reviews as the armchair analysts came out in force in the comments section:
“If you think it’s going to break……. T.F. you riding it for,” wrote one Insty user. “This is still reckless, one lost edge while turning. I’d never ride or tour with you in your crew if I knew you make decisions this way.”
“If you knew it was going to pop, sounds like your risk management skills might get you killed,” wrote another. “Think you need to dial it back a bit, buddy. Otherwise decent advice!”
“I appreciate you sharing this video for educational purposes,” wrote someone in defense of Johnston. “Some good lessons learned. I’m a bit disappointed in the folks criticizing your actions (whether your actions were right or wrong), because this will discourage other people from sharing their experiences in the future. The best education is when we share our experiences and have frank discussions and learn something. Thanks for putting yourself out there and contributing to a discussion about backcountry safety.”
Right? Yeah, this guy might travel in the backcountry differently than others, but I can certainly appreciate his perspective, especially since he knew the area so well. He might not have made the same move had he been in unfamiliar terrain. Sharing is caring, especially when we’re all trying to learn. Johnston was comfortable in his ability to turn at the right time, and the terrain features he could use as safety zones. And it definitely started a huge discussion with more than 300 comments on the post.
And discussions about avalanche terrain are key. Sharing is the first part of the process.
Learn more about avalanche safety in The Inertia’s Inspire Courses+ here.
