Near Death Experience

http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/death.html ^

[navysealdad]

Tree wells are very scary, never ski alone. If his father had not been there to pull him out of this tree well, the son most likely would have died.

[SuzyQue]

Never heard of a tree well before!

[Squidpup]

That run was a little advanced for him, but that’s how you get better. I’ve been stuck in a couple tree wells, really a struggle to extricate yourself.

[notdownwidems]

I’m an avid skier and have never heard of a tree well...someone want to clue me in? don’t want to go to angelfire

[usurper]

I’m an avid skier and have never heard of a tree well...someone want to clue me in? don’t want to go to angelfire

Its just the area around the base of a tree in deep snow. Fir trees don't let snow pile up at their base so you end up with a well. If the snow is 12' deep there likely is a 12' well around the base of the trees. It does not happen much with a pine forest.

[verga]

A pile of snow around the tree branches and the area near the trunk is empty.

[notdownwidems]

That’s what I thought...and these are deadly why now?

[enraged]

You bury a tip fold up and can’t release the bindings. Happened to me when I was young.

[taxcontrol]

The better advice is not to go back country / off trail skiing

[1FreeAmerican]

Ended up in a few tree wells in my time! But the worst was dumping a snowmobile into one with me underneath it. Out of radio contact as well. I was able to wiggle out and then right the machine enough to drive out. I guess it ended up being a good day.

[notdownwidems]

You bury a tip fold up and can’t release the bindings. Happened to me when I was young.

Yes that happened to me once as well and I remember floundering around under the tree for a while until I could get loose, but hardly deadly

[C Lee Tolindo]

I was impressed by both father and son.

Stuff happens, and it is how we deal
with the unexpected that marks our maturity.

[enraged]

Umm. It happens. I was pretty damn stuck and buried deep. It took two people to pull me out. It was 4+ feet deep and I was was maybe 5 foot at the time. 196” base and 36” of fresh powder nothing to grab on to getting cold fast. Now imagine if you got knocked out and the lifts shut down for the night. Dead by dawn.

[notdownwidems]

I see what you’re saying, yes; with that much snow it is a different story altogether

[SuzyQue]

I live in a no snow area, so I’m probably safe. :)

[kitchen]

If you don't ski out of bounds you have to dodge the tourists.