THE TRAGIC STORY of the huge avalanche that killed three people at the out-of-bounds Tunnel Creek ski run near Stevens Pass in the Cascade Mountains last February gets a detailed telling today in The New York Times.
In the first chapter of “Snow Fall” (it’s accompanied by graphics and videos), writer John Branch hooks you up with Elyse Saugstad, a skier who was caught in the avalanche and swept down the mountain before sliding to a stop.
She was partially buried, unable to move — in effect, mummified:
“If you swim out in the ocean, the ocean’s always alive,” Saugstad tells Branch. “You can feel it. But the mountains feel like they’re asleep.”
It’s quite a package, a heck of a read no matter whether you’re a local skier or just look at the mountains from a window inside your warm home.
Here’s a link to the full special project — story, informational graphics, videos and photos: http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/?src=me&ref=general#/?part=tunnel-creek
If you’d like to share your reactions to it, please comment below:
