Ladies We Love: Elyse Saugstad

January 19th, 2013 • BY Megan Michelson

Photo: Heather Erson

Saved by a Backpack: The only survivor of the deadly avalanche at Stevens Pass last February, pro skier Elyse Saugstad talks about life since that horrific day. by Megan Michelson

Pro skier Elyse Saugstad wasn’t planning to ski on February 19, 2012. She was driving from Leavenworth, Washington, to Whistler, BC, but when the snow report called for 14 inches of new snow overnight at Washington’s Stevens Pass ski area, she decided to ski a few laps in the morning before hitting the road. Around noon that Sunday, Elyse was caught in an avalanche on the out-of-bounds backside of the ski resort, an area known as Tunnel Creek. Three people were killed in the slide and Elyse, who was wearing an ABS avalanche airbag backpack, was the only survivor. Since the avalanche, Elyse, 33, has led a women’s backcountry safety clinic at California’s Squaw Valley ski resort and she continues to spread avalanche safety awareness. [Editor’s Note: Writer and editor Megan Michelson was also skiing with the group that experienced the Stevens Pass avalanche. She watched from above as the avalanche broke and assisted with the search and rescue of her friends and colleagues that day. See her full account of the incident published in Outside magazine here.]

This avalanche has been widely publicized, including a massive story in The New York Times. How has the media attention affected you?

Elyse Saugstad: I think overall the media has done a positive job. Of course, there are going to be some stories that come out that are a little ridiculous. But my message that the avalanche backpack saved my life has really resonated and affected the ski and snowboard industry. It’s changing things for the better, and hopefully we can save other people’s lives.

Let’s go back to that day. Describe when the avalanche hit.

Elyse: Chris Rudolph [the marketing director at Stevens Pass and one of the three men killed in the avalanche, along with Johnny Brenan and Jim Jack] and I skied through an open path on the right. There was a small group of us and we all stopped in shouting distance to each other. People were hooting and hollering because the snow was awesome. The next thing I know, I looked over to my left, and there was a cloud of billowing snow coming at us, just like sluff at first. Even though it was headed in my direction I thought I could ski out of it. Chris was yelling at me, ‘Avalanche, Elyse, Avalanche!’ At that point I was being pulled in and I thought, ‘This isn’t just sluff. Pull your airbag.’

The avalanche traveled 2,650 vertical feet down a steep, narrow ravine. What did that feel like from inside of it?

Elyse: Within a second, I was getting tossed over the handlebars and I was completely engulfed in snow. I had no control over my body and I couldn’t see a thing. I didn’t know if I was facing up or down. To me, the whole thing was void of sound. It was a long, long ride. It would speed up and then slow down and I’d think, this is going to be it, this is how I’m going to die. I was trying to stay calm. I kept saying to myself, ‘You’re going to be OK. It’s still going, but you’re going to be OK.’

And when it stopped moving?

Elyse: When it came to a stop, I was on my back and my head was facing downhill, but I could see the sky. I could breathe. My arms were free and I was able to brush the snow off my face but I couldn’t move. It was so dense that my head was completely cemented in the snow. It was like I was in concrete. I couldn’t do anything. I had to just be patient. I lay there for a while, at least 10 minutes before help arrived.

What have you learned about making decisions in the backcountry since this incident?

Elyse: I approach things differently now. I include more protocol now for avalanche precaution. Even when I’m skiing at the resort, I check the avalanche report every morning, which I never used to do when I was skiing inbounds. When I’m in the backcountry, I’m trying to take the same precautions every time, so it becomes a habit. There’s so much to learn and knowing what signs to look for. I by no means consider myself an expert at avalanche safety. I have a lot of experience, but there’s so much to learn.

You started skiing again right away, right?

Elyse: That’s right. After the incident, I continued to ski. I’m a professional skier and I wanted to keep working. I thought that the longer I stayed away from mountains, the more likely I would be to develop a fear. The other reason I started skiing again is because the people who were the most supportive were my mountain friends, my ski buddies. When I look in hindsight, I am surprised that I was so intent on skiing because of all of the weight of what was going on, but that was the way I dealt with it.

How do you feel heading into this winter?

Elyse: I feel refreshed actually. I’m not scared. I haven’t done much backcountry skiing yet, but I’m feeling pretty strong—mentally and physically, and I’m excited to see what this winter brings. I think I’ll just try and keep my head on straight and persevere. Doing things like the women’s avalanche safety clinic was a proud moment for me, which stemmed from this incident. We reached a bunch of women who normally wouldn’t seek out this information and we’re going to continue to do S.A.F.E. A.S. clinics annually. I’d like to go beyond the scope of Tahoe and also reach out to the youth in our ski communities. It makes me happy to give back.

 

Kamagra oral jelly Online something to buy the most convenient way. He doesn’t demand from you any actions except how to visit the website. And in separate with goods necessary to you to put the end. To specify your address and to wait for the supplier to whom you will give money.