Deseret News | Reader comments: Skier dies: Buried for nearly an hour by Snowbird slide

Reader comments
Skier dies: Buried for nearly an hour by Snowbird slide

Brucifer | 3:48 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

Wow, glad I stayed at Solitude today. Hope that poor woman is OK.

skimom | 5:21 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

Early season conditions apply---do not go into the steeps and certain terrain until we get a solid base. The base is low, the layers are fragile--time to warm up on the groomers and low angle stuff. Patience skiers, patience. Base will happen.

skier | 9:20 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

This just in: The girl that was trapped died in the University Hospital.

Comments continue below

Snowdaze | 9:26 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

I was a rescuer in this slide using the pole technique. It was amazing to see how quickly individuals in the ski community helped to locate the victim. In bounds at ski resorts are not exempt from avalanche activity and it is unfortunate that this happened. I commend Snowbird Ski Patrol for there efforts in response to this incident and doing everything within their power to keep our mountain safe!

sad | 9:52 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

RIP Heather

Horrible | 10:51 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

How could this happen inbounds? How odd. Makes you think twice about what is supposedly considered safe. The anomaly can't be a comfort to those close to her... As a member of the ski/snowboard community, I would like to give my condolences to Heather's family and friends. I know words can't do much to ease the pain, but know that we all hurt for your loss. RIP Heather.

Marci Vlam Draper | 11:21 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

Heather, I love you. I want your family to know how wonderful of a person you were. I am going to miss you. We had some pretty fun times back in high school. I will always remember you and your cute laugh and smile! You were always a great friend. I am so proud of all your accomplishments. You will be missed by so many and I am just so thankful that you were a part of my life. God Bless to you and your family. Love your friend..Marci Vlam Draper-BHS

sadsadday | 11:58 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

Just shows you that avalanche education helps for inbounds accidents as well. While inbounds deaths are rare they do happen such as at the Canyons last year. It really puts a damper on the avalanche and skiing community and I'm sure all of our hearts go out to Heathers family.

Rob | 12:44 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

I'll miss you Heather.

Dear family, | 12:51 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

We send out love and condolences. Sincerely, we are sorry for your loss. Much love to the family.

Mr. Lee | 6:59 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

MY condolences to the family. I Lost my older brother 5 years ago in a slide accident in the wasatch RIP ZSE. May your soul rest Heather.

Anonymous | 7:00 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

Very Sad, sorry to your family and friends. We can never be to careful. DNM

John C. | 7:25 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

Kudos to all those who went to her rescue...it is a risk we take but we never want the results like this in the end..very sorry for the family, my prayers are with you:(

Mike | 7:39 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

Deepest sympathies to the Gross family. No matter how good avalanche control has become in the Wasatch Front ski areas (and its arguably the best in the world), there will be accidents, its impossible to remove all risk from the mountains. We're so sorry that Heather became the personification of that risk. We are buying tranceivers for all family members to wear while skiing in-area. Have been meaning to do so for years. Will do it now.

Anonymous | 8:21 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

RIP. A truely tragic accident. The avalanche hazard can never be fully eliminated.

Mike: good for you. You can get good beacons to wear inbounds for under $300. Spend more if you want to go into the backcountry and are more likely to have to do a search.

Henry | 8:37 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

What caused the avalanche? Its really pretty simple. Gravity pulls the snowpack downward. Bonding within the snowpack and through to the ground holds the snowpack in place. When the force of gravity exceeds the strength of the bonding, the snowpack will avalanche (on slopes steeper than about 25 degrees).

Explosives are used in avalanche control in an attempt to shock the snowpack into avalanching. That happens only when the bonding is inherently weak. The failure of an explosive charge to start an avalanche doesn't mean that the snowpack is safe and well-bonded to the ground. It only means that at that moment in time the bonding is stronger than the force of gravity.

The bonding strength of the snowpack can deteriorate over time due to temperature changes, additional loading (more snowfall or wind-blown snow), or naturally occuring physical changes within the snowpack. This means that a snowpack that was stable in the morning when explosive charges were set off cannot be guaranteed to remain stable all day. That was the case on Sunday, and the resulting avalanche claimed a life.

Condolences to the family and friends of Heather Gross.

sad but part of the deal | 8:49 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

nothing could have prevented this from happening and no one is to blame. The girl that lost her life was not at fault and actually died doing something she loved which is of some comfort. I'm sure her loss will be terrible to bare or the Gross family. Sometimes things just happen in life and there is no blame to be placed on anyone. Snowbird tried its best to make the slope safe but sometimes nature decides differently and you just have to accept that.

Shelby Felix Hales | 9:26 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

I was so sad and shocked when I read Heather's name, and thought it couldn't be the same Heather Gross from middle school and high school headlining the paper today. Heather was so smart, sweet, fun, and had a great laugh. I'm sure she's headlined the paper before for some of the accomplishments in her life. I wish the best for her family and closest of friends. Love you, Heather!

Sad Birdie | 9:44 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

RIP Heather - I did not really know you but knew who you were and shared a many of a tram.

The Patrol at Snowbird is recognized world-wide as some of the best there is, this just shows you that Mother Nature is not 100% controlable and for those of who seek the adventure of searching for untracked powder know the risks... Best wishes to her family and friends

Ps. Go out and buy a Peep / Transciever today!

Susan Gross | 9:54 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

As far away as Boise, Idaho & Fort Collins, Colorado, my family grieves Heather's death. We have sympathy for her family, and prayers for all of us to carry on with life, in memory of Heather!

Katie | 10:24 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

Love you and miss you Heather. We've been skiing together since we were three. I will never spend another day at Snowbird when I am not thinking of the years of great memories that we shared together. I don't know anyone who loved being in the mountains as much as Heather. Emily - I Love you and I will always be there for you!!!

Anonymous | 10:42 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

You in Utah may be better educated. Back Country skiing, I've seen skiers ski with no idea of the risk of avalanche. They will be traversing a slope in a catchment right after a big storm. They will keep going after hearing a stab crack under their weight.

My rule is; when in doubt, don't do it.

Johny Fairplay | 10:47 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

Condolences.

Anonymous | 11:35 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

Real tragedy, a young and vital persons loss of life. A sincere prayer for her family and also a valiant effort by resort ski patrol and other parties to actually find and retrieve the body. Resort "in bounds" avalanche activity, where control work had taken place that morning, and where public skiers had been released on the slope, is WAY out of the ordinary and beyond that expected in the Alta-Snowbird community. Statutes and "ticket waivers" generally limit users negligence actions against resort operators. An avalanche though, in bounds,(at Snowbird)is not an assumed risk, and in most legal circles is grounds for a negligence and wrongful death action. (these family decisions though can come later) Presently, I'm sorry for the young lady and her family; what a sad, sad situation.

Laura | 11:40 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

This is such a terrible loss and so sad for Heather's family and friends. Life can be so fragile. My deep sympathy goes out to those who knew her.

Barb | 11:49 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

What a horrible tragedy. Heather, you will be missed.

Anonymous ????? | 2:22 p.m. Dec. 15, 2008

And by the way Mr/Mrs Anonymous (i.e. ambulance chaser), this is not the time to bring up legal actions. Not every tragic event warrants a lawsuit. The men and women of ski patrols throughout the world make every attempt to protect us and sacrifice alot to ensure the safety that we are so privileged to have. By the way, the last time I checked, avalanches, cliffs, etc... are inherent risk of this sport.

RIP Heather !!!!!!!!!

@anon 11:35 | 4:53 p.m. Dec. 15, 2008

How do you control mother nature? Maybe suing God would suffice.

Michael | 7:36 p.m. Dec. 15, 2008

This is very sad. I am from the East and love skiing on the backside of Snowbird (frontside is also good). But I have to admit that I have looked up at times and thought, my God, it wouldn't take much for all the snow up above to come cascading down. Anyway, I will be more careful in the future. Also, the talk about lawsuits above is really inappropriate.

carl lipbalm | 12:10 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

i know snowbird did their best. sometimes its the hair that brakes the camels back. its a mystery, snow and gravity. my prayers go out to her family. aloha

altabirdmn | 5:29 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

RIP Heather

Snowbird has probably the best avalanche control in the world. Its a reminder that mother nature still controls what you can do at the BIRD. Every time I that I go into the Eye of the Needle, I will think about her.

Andy | 10:38 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

I was a Snowbird on Sunday, but didn't realize what was happening until about 2:00. I wish I could have helped somehow. My condolences go to the family.

Kelly | 6:03 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

As one who is alive because of the diligence and extreme efforts of the Snowbird Patrol, I would echo the compliments on this site. Many of the members on the patrol come back year after year because they care about their work and take it very seriously. I am coming up on an anniversary of my own skiing accident and give my condolences to Heather's family and hope they get some peace in knowing the team of patrollers and rescuers gave their all on Sunday to help her.

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3 photos

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

A search and rescue worker and his dog head to an avalanche site Sunday at Snowbird.

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Skier dies: Buried for nearly an hour by Snowbird slide

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Reader comments Skier dies: Buried for nearly an hour by Snowbird slide

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Skier dies: Buried for nearly an hour by Snowbird slide