Buried Alive
lgallagher
- October 11 2008
- 10,579 views
- 40 comments
Earlier this fall 16-year old Randall Stacy was riding at Cerro Catedral in Argentina. After checking the snow stability and watching someone shred the line before him, Randall dropped in and was caught in an avalanche. Watch and see. It’s frightening. But, Randall was found after being buried for just eight minutes. He sustained some serious injuries, but remarkably he lived. Watch the video and read what he had to say in the interview below.
Randall Stacy 2 from Randall Stacy on Vimeo.
filmed by Aaron “Trout” Maksyme
Photo: Ben Girardi
What went through your mind when you first realized the slope was sliding?
I remember the toeside turn and looking down and seeing this big mound building up probably 50 feet in front of me, and that is when I realized that it was sliding. First I thought ‘Oh my God, this is for real, you have to be smart,’ and then immediately I remembered what the SASS avalanche guides, Alex Hunt and Skyler Holgate said in the avalanche classes: try and ride it out at a 45 degree angle.
Did you even have time to react?
The way I had carved into the bowl put me in the middle of the slab so there was basically no way of me actually getting out of the way, but I had time to think and try. I hit the mound in front of me thinking I could get over it and cut out to the right and the snow just sucked me right in like it was moving water.
What kind of precautions did you take to test the slope before you dropped in?
Hiking all the way up there which took about an hour to an hour and a half gave us a feel for the snow, then at the top, Alex punched his ski pole through the snow to feel the different layers. After that, he cut the snow where we were dropping in, then he went first and it held so I thought it was fine.
Photo: Ashley Barker
Can you describe what it was like to be swept away in all that snow?
It was the strangest feeling ever. It felt like everything around me weighed a ton and it got heavier as you went deeper in the snow. On top of that, I could feel the slab below me rolling over every little bump in its path, it was like a roller coaster. Then the slab hit this big roll, and it pulled me in so that I was completely surrounded by snow. Not even my head was out, and from there I got really disappointed.
Did you feel yourself go over that cliff?
I remember going over the cliff. Right before I hit it, I was thinking, ‘Don’t hit the cliff, please don’t hit it.’ Then all of a sudden, I was launched into the air and landed on a rock and then bounced onto another rock. I didn’t feel the pain until the adrenaline was completely out and people were reorienting me and asking me “what hurts?”
What were you’re injuries?
The magnitude of my injuries was puny compared to what could have happened. I had a fractured patella (kneecap), which is the only thing that is hurting me currently. I also had a chip fracture in my pelvis, a hair line fracture in my femur right on the end near the knee cap. The joint in my pelvis called the sacro-iliac joint is a little funky. But other than that, I just had a few bone bruises and some cuts.
Photo: Ashley Barker
What did you learn from the whole experience?
Mainly be smart, and be strong. I want to learn more about the whole avalanche area.. The doctors said that because of all the dry-land training we do at Statton Mountain School, my muscles protected me from further injuries, so I’m going to keep working out till I get really old. Also, if you are going to be in the backcountry, have people who know what they are doing around you. The whole time I was with an avalanche guide and he found me using the beacon and probe.
Do you plan to return to SASS camp next fall?
Definitely. This summer was the best summer I have had in a long time and I look at what happened as something that I have to learn from. SASS was the most fun experience of my life and I can’t wait to go back next summer. It is such a different experience, powder is so different from being a park rat. Landing a 7 in park is completely different than in powder, I need to get better at spinning into powder. It makes you appreciate it more when you see people spin 9’s and 10’s into 2 feet of powder.
Photo: Ashley Barker
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October 13th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Good god. Glad you stuck it out Randall. Heal fast my man.
October 13th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I cant comprehend how any one survied that
October 13th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
stoked you lived and didn’t get too badly hurt, but why didn’t your Avalanche guide dig a pit to check the stability. Sticking a pole into the snow doesn’t tell you much. It’s good that you were found and dug out fast but a good guide would have not have put you in that situation in the first place. And from the video it looks like some innocent people in bounds at the top of the chair got buried as well. Anyway if everyone just rode handrails this would have never happened.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
haha. “if everyone rode handrails this would never happen.” that’s some funny shiv.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
he did mention that “he cut the snow where we were dropping in” but it doesn’t mention what exactly that entailed. either way thank god you are alive and use this as a lesson.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:02 am
hey guy’s i shot the footage of randall’s backcountry and avalanche shot but noticed that i was not credited on your web site.
please get back to me.
thanks
October 15th, 2008 at 8:58 am
The guide did the right things. He had been checking snow conditions all morning. Slicing a section of snow with skis can reveal layers, and he skied the line before us. He then proved his skills by locating Randall in 5 minutes in a super chaotic scene.
Trout, you are credited on the Rome site, which this one is linked to I believe. Lots of sites are linking up to the footy w/o checking with me.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:16 am
That was way to intense, happy to see that your aiight!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
HOLY SHITE!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
hell yea randle, that day was fucked, glad you made it out, nice edit, i still cant believe that shit actually happened… ill see you this winter on the east, and back in argentine country for summer.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
incredible man. one lucky dude - definitely have some balls to go back again. found him in eight minutes? thank god for technology
October 15th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
dont criticize the guide, he knew what he was doing, we were on that snow pack all day on the same aspect, they guide used good judgement. The avy level that day was considerable and the guide went first, tried to get the slope to slide but seemed stable. Randle just happened to hit the “hot” spot and have the whole face release on him. You can’t just read the article and think that the guide did not do his job. You can dig pits and from your reading of snow pack think the snow is stable, however that is not always are they accurate. The snow pack can have a false stable reading. It was amazing for the guide to find him as quickly as he did, the confusion and language barrier caused complete chaos. mad props to randle, and the guide that was able to organize a search and have everything run as smooth as possible under the given circumstances.
well done
October 15th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I went to SASS in 2006. SASS spends a lot of time on Avvy safety and using a beacon. By the time you leave, your beacon becomes part of your daily kit. The Coaches that teach Backcountry safety are some of the best in North America. I mean, like HALL OF FAME good. If you ride a motorcycle and wear your helmet you might still hit an oil spot and crush yourself. Same Deal. The possibility is always there so SASS trains every rider to become adept with the electronics…and to make good decisions. In argentina, there ain’t no rope tows Sally.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Thanks for the extra input Sam. I have lost a couple friends to Avalanches and they were all prepared and safety first, but things happen and end of the day we’re all stoked Randall is ok and here to share his story
October 15th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
I don’t want to criticize, I know avalanches are unpredictable and I wasn’t there. But I think it’s important to learn from mistakes. I also think that it’s important to let others know that being 2nd, 3rd or even 20th on a slope doesn’t make it safe. And discrediting the digging of a pit because your results may not be accurate is also not a great idea. It’s about gathering as much information about the snowpack (especially when avy level is at considerable or higher) as you can, and then making an educated decision about it. And from reading the article it makes out like the snow stability was fully checked, when it seems like an important piece of the puzzle (digging a pit) wasn’t. Would be nice to let the people know what if anything the guide would have done differently. Big props on the rescue though. Also would like to know about the people caught below.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:21 am
what lil wanye song is this
October 16th, 2008 at 9:38 am
’shoot me down’ by lil Wayne
October 16th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Randell was the only person caught in the slide, the people gettting off the chairlift just got dusted. Not many people have beacons down there except the sass coaches and campers. Nobody knew how many people got burried at the time, so a probe line was formed to search for other people. Fortionatly no one else got burried. Im not discrediting the effectiveness of a snow pit, but the guide knew what he was doing. He went first and tried to get the slope to slide. Avy safety is a top concern at SASS and they spend lots of time educating campers to insure safety. They have 2 excellent guides that do an exceptional job day in and day out
October 16th, 2008 at 11:51 am
No one else was buried. They searched for four hours. It looks like the people above the lift get smoked, but it was just a snow cloud at that point. Word up Sam Phillips.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
wow man that was crazy. I hope your recovery goes/was good.
October 17th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Dude you are so lucky you survived! You survived on dumb fuckin luck. You had no previous training other than what they taught you a couple days in advance. WTF? Going into the backcountry takes years of learning, practice, and commitment. You go to a mountain school and ride park all day. You have no business riding backcountry on a summer camp trip like this. This camp is ridiculous and could seriously hurt some kids in the future! I would never send my kids to something like this! I would take them out myself and have them learn/experience something before jumping head first in the backcountry like an idiot! Thank God everyday that you didn’t die in Argentina! Good luck with the recovery!
October 17th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
didn’t you read what he said?? he had the bet summer ever!! It’s all about the pursuit of happiness and good time. Sometimes shit hits the fan though, like it did here obviously, and then you got to just move on like he’s doing.
Way to be homey, keep on riding. good to hear you’re all healthy. I don’t even want to say the survival statistics of a complete avalanche burial.. I think everyone knows what they are.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
dude are you fucking seirous? going into the backcountry takes years of experience but what is a better way to start that riding with some of the top guides in the world. This camp pays to hand out the required equipment to protect everybody. The spend countless amounts of money to get two of the best guides to help educate and protect all campers. What they tought the students is more than anyone can learn on there own, or reading books. The camp offers real life experience to ensure the safety of all campers. without the education who knows what could have happened. With out all-star guides there were slim chances getting him out as fast as we did. You cant criticize something that you dont understand. go to sass have the best time of your life, and learn more about avalanches from the people that work with them everyday. i went to sass and learned more than you could during your lame ass summer. go to argentina ride pow and have more fun that you can anywhere else. case closed
October 20th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Word up again Sam. Just a quick clarification, it was not backcountry riding. We were at a resort. We arrived at a lift after every run we took out there. Nothing was fenced off and the area was right in between Laguna and Nubes, areas we rode daily. It is obviously an area that needs to be controlled (the slide almost buries people right at the lift). We would have been safer in the real backcountry because we would not have had to deal with all the patrol and public and Alex could have located Randall without the chaos. Right or wrong, we learned lessons and Catedral is now a safer resort. SASS is so siiick…..que grosso.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
wow
October 20th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
man i dropped that same face. i guess i was lucky.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
wooow big avalache right there, so stoke that this guy survived with all thess rocks and clifs asolutly incredible
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:02 am
that shot left me breathless for some seconds…glad to see you are alright and the fact that it is possible to survive such an avalanche!!! peace and love from norway!! h
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 am
that was crazy! soopa stoked you recovered from that man
LTD
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
None of that is “inbounds”.
This is a freaky video. SASS is a fucking dank experience and this is just a testament to how gangster these guys really are. I so hope I can make it out next year. Keep doing the damn thing SASS. Keep those kids alive.
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
First off SASS is the shit. Best time of my life. period!
Secondly I did a whole shit load of backcountry riding at resorts w/ no safety gear when I was young. I got into sticky situations and went places I shouldn’t have. SASS is the perfect opportunity for a dumb fuck like myself to GET EDUCATED and learn about this stuff.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
As Randall’s parents, we thought it was time to weigh in on the dialogue. One has only to look at the pictures in any ski or snowboard magazine to know that skiing or riding the perfect line in perfect powder is awesome.
We sent Randall to SASS in South America to train and learn about snow conditions and safety. We want to thank SASS for the on snow and off snow classes they provided. While the video is proof that you cannot always predict an avalanche, Randall was well trained in what to do in the case of an avalanche. Without this training, it is quite likely the outcome would have been much different. In addition he was riding with a coach, an avalanche expert, a helmet, and a beacon.
We want to offer a special thanks to Alex, the avalanche expert, who had the special training and presence of mind to quickly utilize his skills to find Randall. A special thanks to Ian Kirk, his coach, who has stood by our son both during the experience and after it.
And finally, we want to say how proud we are of our son who has handled the experience with tremendous strength, maturity, and integrity. Randall you’re awesome!
The Stacy’s
October 24th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Don’t you know one of the most important rules of riding in avy terrain is never drop in on a slope above people??? This is exactly what this rider did by hitting a slope above a ski resort. Did it ever cross his mind that, ‘if this slides it will hit the resort’? What if someone had gotten killed? How irresponsible is that? Hopefully this guy will pick up some avy texts and educate himself
October 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
yo man your a beast. good luck with the healing and all that. props
October 28th, 2008 at 6:47 am
thank god! he´s alive!! God bless all the snowboarders, including me!
peace!
October 29th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
SASS did what they can and i dont think i can say anything better than Sam. this was a great learning experiance for everyone and thank god Randell had all the training that he did. which SASS previded everything that was needed to make it safe and educational for all the staff and campers. this camp run the way it does to provide an experiance of a life time. which i no everyone has gotten. including me. props to you for putting this out there.
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
i rode with this kid from when i was like 8-12 years old he is a fucking insane rider im glad he stuck it out and i hope he gets betetr soon
February 15th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
LOL. I guess.
March 21st, 2009 at 3:10 pm
lil zane was the sexyest one in this vid
September 29th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
What time of day did that happen? Looks like its the sunny part of the bowl where the avalance started, no go zone at afternoon i would think.