Afghan Avalanches

[Hypoxic]

Scores killed and dozens more injured (with numbers rising for both) in major avalanches in Afghanistan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8506033.stm

Rescue teams are still on the job, and it seems the predictions are grim.:(

[shanja]

The "white death" is the major danger in snow covered mountains, especially those with glaciers and humans in them! There was also a big one in India just the other day that killed a dozen or so Indian Soldiers and cut off the Ski Resort town nearby. Proving that mountain Gods take the idea of high altitude warfare and fighting battles in the Himalaya rather diapprovingly.
But as ever, the deaths are a great tragedy for those directly affected and their loved ones. Avalanche Awarness Courses are such an undervalued experience, but even with the knowledge accidents will happen. The avalanche doesn't know you are an expert! Be safe and learn from what is happening out there.

[panicked_bear]

I don't know if we could find causality with high altitude warfare and diving intervention. It's that sort of thinking that led to the start of said war was it not?

Just sayin.....

[Hypoxic]

I don't know if we could find causality with high altitude warfare and diving intervention. It's that sort of thinking that led to the start of said war was it not?

Just sayin.....

I don't attach divinity or intention to anything, particularly not to Nature, and if I may, I don't think Jake was making a dogmatic comment so much as a description of the unfortunate nature of the continuing conflict.

Of course the avalances didn't occur because "gods" are angry because of war on "their land."

[Les]

"Ah, Jirisan once again displays its exquisite wisdom."

Guess Nature does what it does.

[shanja]

Oops I did it gain, making ambiguous comments. No, as Shawn guessed I just meant that from an aesthetic, ecological and physical-logistical perspective war-fare in the high Hims is rather fraught with risk and pathos. Can we not keep one small part of the globe free from our destructive aggression?
Divine intervention? I don't believe in any Gods, certainly none that can intervene in the natural world/ world of humans. But of course if you (anyone) does, that's cool and your prerogative. Take no offense where none is intended.

[Brad]

Whenever you bring people up into the alpine, especially if they intend to hunker down and kill each other. Tragedies like these will happen. During WWI 60 000 people were killed fighting in the Italian alps from avalanches alone. When people don't respect the mountains this will happen. Even with the right gear, knowledge and skills people still die. Take away these three things and its an inevitability.

Scary stuff and sad news, no surprises here though.

[Hypoxic]

"Ah, Jirisan once again displays its exquisite wisdom."

Guess Nature does what it does.

Indeed it does. :)

Although mountains have no purpose or intent, what was being underlined in what I said is the name of that mountain: 지리 means, in a loose translation, "exquisite wisdom." Traditionally, Jirisan was the mountain said to turn fools into wisemen. "Turn into" refers to the human ability to realise, regret, and grow out of one's folly. We certainly allow mountains to have that effect on us.

It's good to get to feel small.


*For those unsure what we're talking about, I made the comment "Ah, Jirisan once again displays its exquisite wisdom" in a trip report thread.

[panicked_bear]

Les, you need to change your profile picture, you look like Bubbles.:brick:

"Well, that's a little harsh. He's not a punk. He might be a bit of a f***in' goof, but he's not a punk."

[Les]

Fools into wisemen, eh? Well, for me, that might be a bit optimistic.

Matt, where'd you quote from? Verne, I presume? Your computer fetched half of what you said it was worth.