Snake River Float Avalanche Airbag Save
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ส.ค. 2024
- This avalanche airbag footage was caught on January 25th, 2012 in the Snake River backcountry near Montezuma, Colo. It features pro snowboarder Meesh Hytner getting caught in an avalanche and staying on top after deploying her BCA Float 30 avalanche airbag. While airbags can be extremely effective in preventing avalanche burial, they are no substitute for education and good judgment. Please take an avalanche course and choose your terrain based on the current avalanche hazard. For more learning resources, see www.backcountry... .
For more information on BCA Float airbags, see:
backcountryacce...
Thanks to Tyler Malay and the crew over at workhorsecollective.com for the footage.
Segregation by size in a granular flow (the "brazil nut effect") applies to particles of equal density. Your body is already vastly larger than the snow particles in an avalanche, but you'll sink nonetheless, due to your density. The airbag here works via a buoyancy effect, by greatly reducing your average density. (Net potential energy is lowest with you on the surface, IF you have the airbag inflated.)
Thanks for all your feedback, folks. BCA co-owner Bruce Edgerly here. We're sorry it appears we set this whole thing up and are exploiting it to the max. Our company is truly dedicated to saving lives, not just pumping products. We really had nothing to do with making this footage and we believe this event was irresponsible. We have always supported education as the #1 priority in the backcountry. An airbag cannot make up for poor judgment. We apologize for any mixed messages we may have sent.
It looks like there were several people went in this same location before the slide occurred. Nobody dug a snow pit there and verified if it was safe it seems. I was amazed at the inflatable bag kept him up so well.
Your products saved my friends life 2 years ago and I won’t leave the house without mine!
Me too I even wear mine to the grocery store like the vegans in south park
Good clarification. I was like, they must have signed a death waiver! But pretty incredible to see the device work!
Dude even if you DID set this up... you guys saved my friend's life 🙏 I wouldn't complain if you killed a panda to market your product... okay maybe then I'd complain 😅 ... seriously though, grateful this wasn't a marketing stunt and you guys are literal lifesavers thank you! ❤️
Also, what an amazing capture of the crust breaking. I can imagine the sound was phenomenal.
Buying mine this weekend along with my beacon, probe, and shovel. As well as taking an avy class. Everyone be safe this season and have fun!
All i can think about is the denied high five at 0:54 for the guy in green. Ouch.
@velvetbc Not the case, this footage was shot by a group of snowboarders in the Colorado backcountry during a competition and was later brought to us. We were not associated with the riders before the incident occurred.
That actually looked like fun. Glad the airbag worked so effectively.
@Weedavewallace As an avalanche rumbles down the slope, it starts to sort debris by size, much like what would happen if you shook a bucket of dirt, gravel and rocks: the small pieces settle to the bottom and the larger pieces rise toward the surface. Airbag packs increase the size of the ski or rider sufficiently to double their chances of ending up on the surface. It has been tested over 500 times with mannequins on explosive-tripped slopes, & has several real-world incidences.
This is an amazing explanation and clarified it perfectly! Thanks man!
Has it ever been to a big mountain like k2 or Everest? And did it get tested there? Just curious not trying to be a dick lol one love.
@@bobbyhall7472 Its meant for back country skiing/snowboarding. The avalanche risks on 8k summits are different than what this product is designed for.
@yellowman88 Not the case, this footage was shot by a group of snowboarders in the Colorado backcountry and was later brought to us. We were not associated with the riders before the incident occurred.
@lmprider92 Not the case, this footage was shot by a group of snowboarders in the Colorado backcountry and was later brought to us. We were not associated with the slide or the riders before the incident occurred.
Thank you for taking one for us. Lots of skiers died from avalanches sadly a kid died in one in front of his father. Horrible
@txtransplant1984 We're certainly not advocating the decisions made that day (we weren't involved in them). This video simply shows that airbags can and do help when things go wrong...
@hullohulloRFC Snake River was the name of the area where the avalanche took place, and Float Avalanche Save just means it was an avalanche deployment in real terrain that helped saved the snowboarder from being buried.
I can't believe the ignorance in some of these comments. Clearly many of you have never snowboarded, much less in backcountry. This is a case of the right place at the right time with the camera and Meesh was lucky she was prepared. I grew up in those mountains and many people spend more time riding in the backcountry while the tourists are on the slopes. I personally think the bag she deployed is genius and clearly it works. Glad she's ok.
@jellypop2401 We would never be involved in making an advertisement with someone's life at risk.
@greenmtbc I don't know how else we can convince you that we didn't have any involvement in this, perhaps you should contact Meesh directly (you can find her on facebook), or the videographers/photographers (contact details are on Workhorse Collective's website). We gave Meesh that hat when she came to our booth at the tradeshow, but if you'd like one for yourself, you can buy one on our webstore.
I think it should deploy with a mess of colored powder so you can be spotted even easier. Even if you travel a distance and sink in the snow the trail of color will still lead to where you are.
these air bag systems save lives ive used it first hand and had family use it first hand. dont second guess because of the price buy and use it when you need it.
I'm so sick of everybody acting holier than thou regarding avy's. If you don't like somebody's decision making process then so what! You're not the one who has do live or die by the consequences, do you really know what the avy report for they're specific area was for the day? Or if they did sheer tests or avalanche control? I appreciate any avy videos that people are willing to share because it helps educate us all to make good decisions in the future.
@jpdemer5 Snow doesn't behave like a fluid - it acts according to particle physics like grains of sand. Airbags help because they make you a "larger object" which helps sift you to the top of the sliding snow. It's not buoyant forces at all
For all you people bashing on BCA for saving this individual's life, why not instead say "Thanks BCA for making a great product!"? And when you say an airbag gives everyone a false sense of security, so only stupid people wear them..... is that what you say about seatbelts too? Seriously, come on people, where's the gratitude and respect for a life-saving device???
@paulakiwi1 believe it or not, this wasn't sponsored or caused by BCA in any way- those involved were holding a competition on their own accord and simply brought us the footage afterwards.
Anything else is just a conspiracy theory fail.
@greenmtbc we gave that hat to Meesh when she came by our booth at the SIA tradeshow, well after the incident. We also gave that exact hat to about a hundred other people that came by during the show...
@greenmtbc to think BCA would set up an avalanche with someone in it just leads me to believe that you need to take an avalanche course and learn more about BCA. I'm the one who filmed the videos at Alpental with test dummy and can answer any questions about those. This one was filmed by a professional photographer who was there to shoot the contest, which was supposedly cancelled, but some chose to ride anyway.
I need one of these to wear on these buses here in Colombia.
Highly underrated comment
if the airbag really works, than that's one of the inventions ive seen for a avalanche!! that's just amazing
Terrible that these people have abused you like that. Ignore them.
@MiNyToY95 An airbag works by increasing the user's overall surface area, making them more likely to end up at the top of an avalanche of moving snow.
@ArtifactProductions I thought the same thing, the pack is great and all, but I don't think it played a roll in this one.
The point of the bag is to keep you from getting buried. You, in layman terms, float. Although it does not operate on the buoyancy principle.
My old friend and former Montezuma mayor, JT was looking over that snow boarder!!
@inad316 when snow obtains velocity and magnitude it become viscous, like how custard when poured becomes liquid, yet when not moving will hold a semi-solid state that you can mould. Without an airbag the girl would of been pushed "under" the flowing snow, where she could hit rocks or the mountainside, worse still is that once the snow stops and she is still "under" it will trap her and she will suffocate.
Pretty cool, but this video is kind of deceiving because this is a pretty small avalanche and she probably wouldn't have been buried anyways. Would love to see the airbag in a full blown avalanche to see how it performs. Still a sweet invention that will definitely save lives.
but at least u would have much more time with air
if youre buried and then make a hole in the airbag
Wow, so this thing keeps you "a float" when the snow "liquifies" underneath you during the avalanch? Is that the basic concept?
@velvetbc When your in backcountry you don't go alone. If your with a crew of people taking snowmobiles into deep backcountry, everyone's got to watch their backs and spot their friends even if avalanche danger is at moderate level.
These things are amazing, the bags that is
I agree. Airbags should not give you the confidence to ride in High danger, or even considerable danger this season. Did you not see the avalanche debris on the adjacent slope? If it slides naturally, it will slide with the weight of a skier or rider. Glad the airbag worked.
@cwwwise No, we would not use a real person in an avalanche test. End of story. If you do more research on this event you'll find that it's a pre-qualifier for a larger event and that's why there were many photographers on hand, as well as snowmobiles to help with medical situations, etc. But man, if it weren't for ill-informed, accusatory writing and super negative comments like those exemplified in your post, I guess the internet wouldn't be much fun for people under 40!
yea at the bottom where the main amount of accumulation may be 10 feet but while sliding that is not enough to bury someone fully. I think i would know i work for Utah avalanche center
That was barely an avalanche, more of just a snow slide, and the balloon thing did absolutely nothing to help her; the snow wasn't deep enough to even bury her. I'm not saying the balloon thing couldn't help, it just wasn't needed in the is case.
omg never knew such airbags existed, no snow in tropical Queensland Australia...what are they called, airbags for dummies?? Still, awesome invention!!! Will save lives
thats the cutest avalanche ive ever seen
Air bag win! Beautiful break!
That WAS crazy. Probably luck involved in how the snow was moving around her, but I would think some of the upright position had to be extremely deft and subtle board balance skills.
When I saw this on Yahoo, I was hoping for a more... 1080 Avalanche like video. Great that she's okay though, never would have thought to put an airbag in my rucksack while I board.
this is absolutely awesome!
Crazy - I don't know how she was able to remain standing while riding that slab. I'd like to read her account pre-drop, the slide, and ride.
The Snowboard never went under the snow. Awesome Idea, crazy avy but don't think she would have been buried with or with out backpack. Very poor judgement on backcountry assessment. Thankful either way this turned out positive!!!
@paulakiwi1 By the way, the product is impressive.. a real life-saver obviously!compact, easy to deploy ... great to see.. thanks BCA for replying that it wasn't set up as an ad.. but still obvious that the avalanche was close to inevitable by looking at the snow and the slope.. hence life-threatening without the gear and support team
And as of Monday the 6th of February 2012 sales dubbled, The feport reads in June 2012.. See I can see in to the future. : )
@BackcountyAccess thanks :D
Anyone hating on this only rides GT Snow racers. As dangerous as Avalanches may be, it is every snowboarders dream to ride away from one safely. Made props to this rider!
I wonder if this would save someone who fell in a tree well ?
sorry guys I would like to ask something more interesting compared to your discussion. What is the jacket of the lifeguard? it looks amazing!
Spyder
looked more fun if anything. stoked you're ok
She gets credit for having a solid presence of mind to deploy the devise when she did. Would a teen or a young man? I say no way. It's not a FOOL proof devise after all.
@commentM0NSTER Very similar to a life jacket to inflate. and once you are cought in the avalanche it basically gives you 'breathing space' so u can survive for longer if buried until people come to dig you out, as i have been led to believe, i am a park rider not so much a back country rider.
not sure if this is a commercial ad or not, but in real life they won't come to your help so quickly ,specially with cameras ready to film it!!...looks like staged and prepared
GOOD BUT SHE STAYED ON TOP OF THE SNOW THE WHOLE TIME.IVE WATCHED THE VIDEO OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EVEN UP CLOSE AND IN SLOW MOTION BUT EVEN STILL BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY AND IF IN DOUGHT WHAT DO YOU(SHE)GOT TO LOOSE?
I have an airbag and it is really reassuring to know that its there if I do get in an avalanche. One thing I have that this boarder doesnt have is some talent. She is nowhere near good enough to ride that terrain and is risking her life by doing so.
You guys that was so cool!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing this video!!!!!
Where's the part where it becomes a giant rolling snowball?
advertisement? why would someone what to advertise an airbag?!?!
I think all the debris you see released at once. Anybody got any *useful* input on preexisting avy debris?
I am sincerely glad she is safe, unhurt, and alive, and I plan on buying one of these packs probably the same exact one this season, the BCA 32 Float. This video along with many other reviews is testament enough to see the value and additional safety factor. My only issue is the fact that she makes a really stupid decision making a hard heelside and nearly stopping on an obviously loaded slope. You can see the fracture propagate and release at the absolute moment she reaches the slowest speed, nearly stopped. Ride the mountain, don't sidehill. Did she have a plan for a safe zone if it did go? What were they doing on this slope in the first place when there are obvious signs of weakness? She's a pro? It doesn't look like there was much consideration from the footage. Honestly (and yes this is much easier in hindsight and from safety) but my reaction if I was there, once I saw that thing go would have been to absolutely fucking pin it straight down. Or avoid the slope and situation completely! When in doubt.... Goes without saying the rest.
3 years ago...drishy?
@mtnbeanmj who are you to judge their decision? Are you in the Rockies? Have you tested the snowpack lately? Especially that day? People ride the backcountry all the time. Its not your place to judge them or anyone else.
I'm sold!
wow..stay safe!
I wonder if there could be a feature in the airbag that it could automatically deflate after 5 min to create an air pocket under the snow in case of a burial. To help with stopping asphyxiation deaths.
Black Diamond has this, but their airbag comes at a steep price of $1600 MSRP.....worth three passes at resorts lmao and or two passes for two years + a BCA avvy airbag. It’s an expensive bag!
Yeah, a couple of them have this feature. I don't recall the brand, but one of them will auto deflate after 3 minutes to try and open an air pocket.
11 years later but This comment section is pure cancer. On one hand, we've got the typical posh tourists who never skied other thing than green groomers 5 days per year, 3 of them spent at the bars, not a single carve, every turn skidded, and think they know everything, clear indication of their immense ignorance. On the other hand we've got people who don't even do that, saying that we are like children because we like to snowboard/ski. Yeah, because sports are speciffic for kids or adults, right?
"Wise men speak because they have something to say. Fools speak because they have to say something" Plato.
Hi, I work for the NTR, Public Broadcasting in The Netherlands. We would like to use some of this video. Who can we credit?
nice work !
i dont get the concept of the title?????
Клевая штука.
where can i read about how this airbags work?
@sdthompson1970 The aribags are proven to work (in 98% of avalances were an ABS ABS airbag has been deployed the victim was not fully burried).
Your claim that airbags effect of decreasing the users relative density as an object because of the sheer weight of the snow goes against basic physics (Archimedes' principle)
1 foot crown slab release..looks wind loaded north facing..she would of done same thing without ABS bag..
Do you offer the same criticism to race car drivers? How about skydivers? The danger of avalanches is always present on steep, fresh snow. Wearing a bag is like putting on your seatbelt while driving: it's a smart precaution, but it doesn't mean you can ski (or drive) like a maniac. Serious skiers (like serious drivers) don't believe that it's a license to be foolish, which is why avalanche fatalities are rare, and will decline as these bags become more widely adopted.
Riding a line right next to another fresh human triggered slide slide will likely have the same result.
@bmbeck21 This is how skiers are. They are an ungrateful lot. I'm surprised none of them have posted that it was probably the snowmobile making all that noise at the bottom that caused the avalanche and that they should be banned from being within 25 yards of powder snow.
how the the airbag work, I don't get it
Does this mean avalanches are not to be feared anymore?
No...
I know this is an old thread but I'm going to comment anyway. First of all I don't think the airbag saved the guy. I think he was going to ride it out on top anyway. There's been 11 deaths in Colorado this year and four of them deployed airbags. Just because you're wearing an airbag doesn't mean you should throw caution to the wind. Personally I think no matter how much rescue gear you have, even if you have a helicopter sitting there with a rescue crew, you should ride like you don't have any of that. An Avalanche will kill you regardless. Another thing I noticed is that it appears they are riding early-season conditions. Early-season conditions are easily the most dangerous and the only reason more people don't die early in the season is because I think there is less activity. Also the ability of that Rider was not adequate to be riding that train. I believe the prerequisite to riding back country especially extreme terrain such as that in the video you should be fully accomplished on a snowboard since that is your best recourse. He was obviously a mediocre Ryder.
@greenmtbc Could you please list your questions in an organized manner so that we can answer them? Trolling is when you post anonymously, which I'm not doing. But you sure are.
that guys legendary
It's a good thing that the snowpack here isn't very deep because that could have been a lot more violent.....
That bag looks cute and weird
This snowboarder doesn't seem skilled enough for back country?
0:55 high five! . . .denied !
for what does the airbag work??
3 feet of snow is enough for a person to get trapped in and suffocate.
@greenmtbc Just out of curiosity, what actions?
These bags would be useful on sinking ships.
I think this product is great. I still think that your chances are still 50-50 for something that small. Remember..its not water.
but it's a very small float!
My product placement viral marketing senses are going haywire
If those air bags really make a difference, commercial slopes should make them mandatory. Even if they only increase your chance of survival by a little bit, any bit helps! How many lives could be saved by that orange pillow? It certainly appears that it saved hers!
Search "snow fall: the avalanche at Tunnel Creek."
A sobering New York Times multimedia/story.
@JMT970
You need to take a chill pill.
It WAS irresponsible backcountry riding. It was a close call. The airbag seems to have only a little impact on Meesh's escape from danger...but it did help, and I bet Meesh is glad she was wearing it. What exactly is wrong with BCA using this as an example of an avalanche survival? It's not often that you have such high-quality video of a slide - we benefitted because of the contest being videoed in high def. I fail to see a problem here, just a negative know-it-all named @greenmtbc.