[j4pe]

The incident this piece revolves around seems strange. I can't find the avalanche report to confirm this, since only fatal accidents seem to be publicly available [1] (all reported US avalanches are cataloged publicly [2]).

First, it seems like the burial victim was on the surface for 30 minutes and wasn't found by his companions - who also had avalanche beacons. It's very common for people to panic after an avalanche burial - the comments of any youtube footage of avalanche rescues will be full of people screaming "you idiot, why did you take off your gloves/not spread out/forget to set your transponder to search". Because these are simple things that people forget. But I've never heard of rescuers, for a full half hour, failing to notice a fluorescent float bag on the surface of the avalanche field. Is it possible this was uncovered by rotor wash?

Then, the professional rescuer is described as asking on-site amateurs - twice! - to remove his shovel from his pack. This should never be necessary. All alpine packs are designed to hold avalanche gear - shovel and probe - in an isolated compartment for rapid ease of access. It's just an odd note that makes the reader wonder what inaccuracies have crept into the story, or, if it actually happened as described, makes the reader wish the author had the expertise to notice and explore these anomalies in the incident.

1. https://www.slf.ch/en/avalanches/destructive-avalanches-and-...

2. https://www.avalanche.state.co.us/caic/acc/acc_report.php?ac...