This past Sunday, a 31-year-old New Hampshire man with ties to Plymouth State University was riding a closed trail at Cannon Mountain and had an accident. That accident killed him. According to the Concord Monitor, Joshua Vigeant had a bachelors degree in Psychology, rode frequently, and had a huge passion for the outdoors and the mountains. With exception of not wearing a helmet and number of planks, the above description very likely could have been my own.
In the past two weeks, I have enjoyed three excellent powder days (two of which were at Cannon) due to skiing closed trails. The news strikes close to home but it won’t change my early season powder hunting modus operandi. What I have been reconsidering is my occasionally reckless and frequent habit of solo skiing off piste. In Joshua Vigeant’s case, his friend couldn’t save him. And neither could patrol. But the outcome is beside the point. Accidents happen and its best not to be skiing solo when disaster strikes.
I actually enjoy skiing with others vastly more than skiing solo (with occasional exception). Most of my best days most fondly remembered occur when I ski with others. Company to share the adventure with always makes a great day epic. But my last minute destination choices, lack of planning, scattered social network, lack of skiing friends nearby, and regional preferences make meeting up with others difficult. My introverted nature hinders joining other groups I might chance upon (if such other groups even are changed upon). I just need to make an effort to pick up the phone more often and share my excitement. I do too many other things right when going off the map to fail so poorly at the most basic and important aspect of safe off piste skiing.
6 thoughts on “Reflections on Recent Deaths at Cannon”
I’m in a somewhat similar situation. It’s not exactly the same. My windows of opportunity will be 2 or 3 hour chunks when the trees are open, and Zelda has called it quits for the day. Often I haven’t had a chance to find someone to connect with, and if the trees are running, I’m after it. Other times my girl will lap a parallel trail and wait for me at the lift. I’m getting maybe 30+ days a year and for me it’s all about the trees. I just can’t bring myself to pass up the opportunities I get.
I ski with a whistle, which would probably serve to get me help anywhere in-bounds at Gore, assuming I’m conscious. Obviously not a foolproof plan.
This is an important post. Thanks.
I have a whistle in my backpack when I am earning turns. I probably should have one in my ski pants pocket so it could be used in bounds if needed.
My thoughts on skiing in the woods in bounds is that there is usually enough traffic that I would be happened upon if injured. That said, my favorite tree lines are not on the map and many are so far removed that they might only see a few skiers per hour or even per day. Something to think about there. I ain’t going to stop doing what I enjoy doing most. But I do think I need to make more of an effort to hook up with someone else.
Hate to sound like a buzzkill, but I rarely ever ski closed trails, and I rarely ever ski “off the map” trees by myself. I just feel like there’s plenty of stuff to keep me entertained in bounds (when I’m skiing by myself). In fact, I find that on a powder day, sometimes the choice tree lines get tracked out before the regular trails (oddly enough). I like powder, but I don’t really like it enough to risk getting hurt and stuck; or, more likely, getting my pass pulled. Especially this early in the year.
The Concord Monitor fearlessly lets loose with that hoariest of cliches — “he died doing what he loved.”
Matt- No buzzkill at all. We all have our preferences.
I agree that many times on a powder day, many powder hounds rush for the off piste when the absolute best skiing is the foot of fresh that just fell over a groomer run. My favorite powder skiing is completely untracked that has fallen over a flat service such as a groomed trail.
That said, this early in the season, trails are limited and on trail untracked will last one run if you are at the front of the lift line and tracked powder might last two or three runs before it gets packed down. This assumes the ski area didn’t groom the powder.
Early season, you really need to take matters into your own hands (if you are okay with the risks) if you want epic powder days. I have had them. December is one of my absolutely favorite months to ski powder. Lots of reserved trails, not a lot of people skiing (especially just before the holidays such as right now), and not a lot of competition. Its a lot more enjoyable and often times very little risk of injury or base damage. I am fond of reflecting that the most dangerous place to ski is early season on limited terrain that has high traffic, scraped conditions, and early season skiers.
Its all preferences and its all good.
these men, cannon, and my past decisions also have been on my mind–
sometimes we think with our skis/boards more than our brains…