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One slip is all you get: winter hiking is more popular than ever despite dangers One slip is all you get: winter hiking is more popular than ever despite dangers
(about 2 hours later)
John Nagel has an intimate understanding of the risks of winter hiking. It was a clear, windless day in February 2015 when he stepped onto an unseen patch of hard ice while snowshoeing with a friend near Juneau, Alaska. A cleat on his snowshoe slipped, and in an instant he was careening toward a band of rocks below.John Nagel has an intimate understanding of the risks of winter hiking. It was a clear, windless day in February 2015 when he stepped onto an unseen patch of hard ice while snowshoeing with a friend near Juneau, Alaska. A cleat on his snowshoe slipped, and in an instant he was careening toward a band of rocks below.
As he attempted to steer away, his body launched into the air. He remembers the profiles of familiar mountains spinning in the flat light. “So this is how it ends,” he thought, and closed his eyes.As he attempted to steer away, his body launched into the air. He remembers the profiles of familiar mountains spinning in the flat light. “So this is how it ends,” he thought, and closed his eyes.
“You slip one time, and sometimes that’s all you get,” said Chris Brookhart, assistant fire chief with the Mount Baldy Fire Department in Southern California. “You slip one time, and sometimes that’s all you get,” said Chris Brookhart, assistant fire chief with the Mount Baldy fire department in southern California.
Brookhart works with several agencies to coordinate search and rescue efforts in the Angeles Mountains, a rugged wilderness that is only 30 miles from the second-largest metropolitan area in the United States. The range remained relatively dry during the past five years of drought, but recent weather tilted toward other extremes: heavy snowfall, rain, and a sharp drop in temperatures that solidified the wet snow into shiny “bulletproof” ice. Brookhart works with several agencies to coordinate search and rescue efforts in the Angeles mountains, a rugged wilderness that is only 30 miles from the second-largest metropolitan area in the US. The range remained relatively dry during the past five years of drought, but recent weather tilted toward other extremes: heavy snowfall, rain, and a sharp drop in temperatures that solidified the wet snow into shiny “bulletproof” ice.
Hiker numbers have increased as well. Brookhart has observed full parking lots on winter weekdays. Hiking clubs arrive in buses packed with 50 people. Most live among the palm trees in the valley, and many aren’t prepared for ice so hard that even crampons can’t pierce the surface. It’s like walking on a mirror. A fall would be almost impossible to stop, even with an ice axe.Hiker numbers have increased as well. Brookhart has observed full parking lots on winter weekdays. Hiking clubs arrive in buses packed with 50 people. Most live among the palm trees in the valley, and many aren’t prepared for ice so hard that even crampons can’t pierce the surface. It’s like walking on a mirror. A fall would be almost impossible to stop, even with an ice axe.
“Winter conditions with this kind of ice – it doesn’t give you a second chance,” Brookhart said.“Winter conditions with this kind of ice – it doesn’t give you a second chance,” Brookhart said.
In the last week, two people died on Mount Baldy, a popular 10,000-foot summit. Daniel Nguyen, 23, fell more than 1,500 feet on 2 February after losing his footing on a notoriously steep ridge called Devil’s Backbone. On 6 February, Dong Xing Liu, 47, died after he slipped while hiking with his wife, who was badly injured.In the last week, two people died on Mount Baldy, a popular 10,000-foot summit. Daniel Nguyen, 23, fell more than 1,500 feet on 2 February after losing his footing on a notoriously steep ridge called Devil’s Backbone. On 6 February, Dong Xing Liu, 47, died after he slipped while hiking with his wife, who was badly injured.
At the time, the San Bernardino county sheriff’s department was conducting an aerial rescue of five people stranded on an icy trail. 12 hikers and two dogs were air-lifted off the mountain that day. By 8 February, Angeles National Forest had closed five trails due to “severe risk of injury”. At the time, the San Bernardino county sheriff’s department was conducting an aerial rescue of five people stranded on an icy trail. Twelve hikers and two dogs were air-lifted off the mountain that day. By 8 February, Angeles national forest had closed five trails due to “severe risk of injury”.
Winter conditions with this kind of ice – it doesn’t give you a second chanceWinter conditions with this kind of ice – it doesn’t give you a second chance
In January alone, 21 people died in avalanches in North America. Snow-covered slopes are riddled with hazards and cold temperatures are a relentless menace. Relatively small mistakes can lead to hypothermia, which quickly becomes deadly. Why risk all this? For avid winter hikers, the combination of extreme temperature and difficult terrain means its the ultimate sport challenge.In January alone, 21 people died in avalanches in North America. Snow-covered slopes are riddled with hazards and cold temperatures are a relentless menace. Relatively small mistakes can lead to hypothermia, which quickly becomes deadly. Why risk all this? For avid winter hikers, the combination of extreme temperature and difficult terrain means its the ultimate sport challenge.
Kevin Breitenbach, a cyclist in Fairbanks, Alaska, regularly ventures out for rides through the boreal forest in temperatures down to 50 below zero. Frigid weather presents challenges, he said, but once he figured out how to stay comfortable, he felt safer during a season when the dry, cold air prevents sweat from chilling his skin, bugs and predators are mostly hibernating, open water is frozen, and snow helps cushion falls.Kevin Breitenbach, a cyclist in Fairbanks, Alaska, regularly ventures out for rides through the boreal forest in temperatures down to 50 below zero. Frigid weather presents challenges, he said, but once he figured out how to stay comfortable, he felt safer during a season when the dry, cold air prevents sweat from chilling his skin, bugs and predators are mostly hibernating, open water is frozen, and snow helps cushion falls.
“We’re consumed with the idea of, comfort, safety and ease,” Breitenbach said.“We’re consumed with the idea of, comfort, safety and ease,” Breitenbach said.
“Traveling self-supported in winter conditions changes your idea of what is comfortable, what is easy, and what is safe. Am I safer alone on a winter trail in the middle of the night with just myself to depend on, or am I safer on the highway surrounded by folks texting and driving 60mph? Inexplicably to me, most people would take the latter.”“Traveling self-supported in winter conditions changes your idea of what is comfortable, what is easy, and what is safe. Am I safer alone on a winter trail in the middle of the night with just myself to depend on, or am I safer on the highway surrounded by folks texting and driving 60mph? Inexplicably to me, most people would take the latter.”
Joe Grant, a professional runner in Gold Hill, Colorado, adapted his training to volatile winters in the Rocky Mountains. He too has honed his gear and skills to feel at ease on steep, snow-covered slopes, but said he also learned hard lessons from too-late starts and bad snow conditions. Joe Grant, a professional runner in Gold Hill, Colorado, adapted his training to volatile winters in the Rocky mountains. He too has honed his gear and skills to feel at ease on steep, snow-covered slopes, but said he also learned hard lessons from too-late starts and bad snow conditions.
“The primary reason I run is to explore wild places under my own power,” Grant said. “Winters can be quite harsh, hence a need to adapt my perspective and skill set.”“The primary reason I run is to explore wild places under my own power,” Grant said. “Winters can be quite harsh, hence a need to adapt my perspective and skill set.”
Grant advised novices to use proper gear, understand risks and honestly assess abilities. Most mistakes happen when people venture too far beyond their limits – becoming tired, weak, and unsure where to place that next step.Grant advised novices to use proper gear, understand risks and honestly assess abilities. Most mistakes happen when people venture too far beyond their limits – becoming tired, weak, and unsure where to place that next step.
Traveling self-supported in winter conditions changes your idea of what is comfortable, what is easy and what is safeTraveling self-supported in winter conditions changes your idea of what is comfortable, what is easy and what is safe
Brookhart has witnessed hikers going around tape on closed trails. Although exact numbers aren’t available, Brookhart said rescues have increased sharply over the past few years. It will only become more difficult to bail out people who make poor decisions. Mobile phones mean it’s easy for people to call for help, Brookhart said, but that only solves part of the problem.Brookhart has witnessed hikers going around tape on closed trails. Although exact numbers aren’t available, Brookhart said rescues have increased sharply over the past few years. It will only become more difficult to bail out people who make poor decisions. Mobile phones mean it’s easy for people to call for help, Brookhart said, but that only solves part of the problem.
“Our resources are stretched so thin,” Brookhart. “Now, people can just text 911 on their phones. In the mountains that’s useful, but I think it also affects their decision-making.”“Our resources are stretched so thin,” Brookhart. “Now, people can just text 911 on their phones. In the mountains that’s useful, but I think it also affects their decision-making.”
As for John Nagel, he doesn’t remember landing after his body went airborne, only the sensation of snow hitting his face as he slowed to a stop.As for John Nagel, he doesn’t remember landing after his body went airborne, only the sensation of snow hitting his face as he slowed to a stop.
A sharp pain radiated from his shoulder and he slipped once more while trying to stand. He’d fallen several hundred feet, and staggered for several minutes before his friend, Geoff Roes, located him and helped him change out of snowshoes and into microspikes. Nagel managed to walk out, but an x-Ray later revealed he’d broken three ribs under his left scapula. A sharp pain radiated from his shoulder and he slipped once more while trying to stand. He’d fallen several hundred feet, and staggered for several minutes before his friend, Geoff Roes, located him and helped him change out of snowshoes and into microspikes. Nagel managed to walk out, but an x-ray later revealed he’d broken three ribs under his left scapula.
Seven months later, Nagel had recovered from his injuries but still felt tinges of fear as he went for a solo run on the ridge. Snow had given way the brightly-colored tundra of autumn. The noise of Nagel’s footsteps flushed a wolf from the alders. He heard howling, and turned to see another wolf, flanking him in almost the same place where he slipped in February. Seven months later, Nagel had recovered from his injuries but still felt tinges of fear as he went for a solo run on the ridge. Snow had given way the brightly colored tundra of autumn. The noise of Nagel’s footsteps flushed a wolf from the alders. He heard howling, and turned to see another wolf, flanking him in almost the same place where he slipped in February.
For Nagel, standing between two wolves was a sign he needed to retreat once more. It was also a life-affirming experience. Although he recognizes the risks, he believes his happiness is inextricably connected to Juneau’s backcountry.For Nagel, standing between two wolves was a sign he needed to retreat once more. It was also a life-affirming experience. Although he recognizes the risks, he believes his happiness is inextricably connected to Juneau’s backcountry.
“It’s a wild, beautiful and joyful place to be,” Nagel said. “Being absolutely present in such an inhospitable environment makes for such a profound and pleasurable experience. But I am the one attaching those descriptions. The land is indifferent at best in the winter or summer.”“It’s a wild, beautiful and joyful place to be,” Nagel said. “Being absolutely present in such an inhospitable environment makes for such a profound and pleasurable experience. But I am the one attaching those descriptions. The land is indifferent at best in the winter or summer.”