Ep 38 - Avalanche in Colorado - Mike Zawaski

the Sharp End Podcast

Sports

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 1 March 2019

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Mike Zawaski and a friend were ski touring in the popular Jones Creek area of Colorado in mid-December. Mike started their descent first and stopped in what he thought would be a safe point, but a slab avalanche broke loose and swept him hundreds of feet down the slope, breaking his femur. In this episode, learn how even well-trained and well-prepared ski mountaineers can get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Sharp End is presented by Mammut, with additional support from Colorado Outward Boulnd School and Suunto. This podcast is produced by the American Alpine Club.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You are listening to the Sharp End podcast, a podcast based on
0:08.9	accidents in North American climbing. This podcast is brought to you by the American Alpine Club. and Mamoot has been making the finest alpine equipment since the 1860s.
0:25.0	Driven by a continuous quest for innovation,
0:27.0	Mamoot's technical clothing, footwear, climbing gear, avalanche safety, and alpine equipment are distinguished by the highest quality,
0:35.0	functionality, and safety.
0:38.0	They embody Swiss technology and perfection.
0:41.3	Mammoot, absolute alpine.
0:45.0	Thank you to the Colorado Hour Bound School and Suuito for the additional support.
0:50.6	If you appreciate this podcast and you'll learn from this podcast consider donating it takes a lot for me in the American Alpine Club to produce this podcast every month and a little bit goes a long way
0:59.8	If you'd like to donate go to American Alpine Club.org slash donations
1:05.1	click the drop-down menu and toggle down to the sharp end and voila. Easy as that.
1:10.8	Now before we get to the story I want to practice with telling you that as of February 23rd when I'm recording this, there have been 15 avalanche fatalities in the U.S. 15. Three of those happen on the same day and all three were
1:26.6	separate incidents in different states. In some of these 15 cases they weren't
1:31.0	wearing beacons and in other cases folks were doing most things
1:34.6	right. Luckily in this episode Mike who was caught and buried in an avalanche is
1:41.0	alive and well and tells us his story.
1:47.0	Hi, I'm Mike Zowalski. live in Louisville Colorado I'm a PhD student in
1:55.4	Geology at University of Colorado at Boulder looking at challenging times in
2:00.7	geologic history for mostly of the little microbial life.
2:04.0	I've also worked for the last 22 years for the Colorado Outward Bound School in their
2:08.7	mountaineering program and this is my 18th year as an instructor for Knowles Wilderness Medicine.
2:15.0	And I like to go back under skiing.
	...

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