New West Column

Death In a Ski Area

By Shane K. Staley, 1-31-11

There’s probably nothing that reminds you how dangerous skiing and snowboarding are as an injury—or even worse—a death in the slopes.

Such was true after hearing of a collision on Dec. 24 at Hogadon Ski Area in Casper, Wyo., that resulted in the deaths of a 23-year-old male snowboarder, a 5-year old girl on skis and the injury of her 31-year-old mother.

While such news may lead some to place blame for the deaths on the snowboarder who ran into the mother/daughter skiing duo placing culpability on any one person is ill-advised. Fact is, this could happen to anyone who takes to the slopes. 

In his Jan. 19 article “Investigators conclude probe of Hogadon deaths,” Casper Star Tribune staff writer William Browning reported that officials found no evidence that could result in legal charges.

The story described how Craig Shirley was snowboarding down a run when he crashed into Kelli Johnson and her young daughter, Elise, both of whom had stopped on their skis.

The Tribune reported Shirley came down the hill at 40 to 60 mph when he hit Kelli and Elise Johnson. But skiing or snowboarding at such a speed in not uncommon. If there were no signs informing riders and skiers to slow down on the run, there was no way for Shirley to know he should decrease his speed.

One might claim that Kelli and Elise Johnson should not have stopped in the middle of the ski trail. Yet, doing so would be misplacing blame also.

When you stop and think about it, there really is no such thing as a safe place to pause and take a breather anywhere on run. Anywhere on any mountain’s trails is a potential location for a possible collision, whether it’s the bunny hill, an intermediate run, a black diamond trail or a terrain park. 

Not only that, but you can just as easily be run into by another skier or snowboarder when going down the hill as when you are at a standstill. Just ask yourself if you have ever stopped at a less-than-ideal location on the runs at your local ski area. Most—if not all of us—would probably answer yes. We stop to wait for friends to catch up, to watch our fellow boarders and skiers do tricks and oftentimes just to take a break.

The harsh reality of both skiing and snowboarding is: They’re dangerous.

All of us who take to the slopes face the potential of being hit and injured by a fellow winter sports enthusiast. But we can also catch an edge, land incorrectly and crash or make any number of possible mistakes that could leave us injured—or even worse. 

Even if we take every precaution we can think of (which we should), including wearing a helmet, we must also always remain aware of our surroundings and ride or ski within our limits. But even that won’t necessarily spare you the fate Elise Johnson and Craig Shirley shared at Hogadon. 

The very contours of mountains and their ski runs can enhance danger. One witness cited in the story by Browning claimed Shirley may have failed to see the mother and daughter before cresting a hill. 

There are a number of runs at the sole ski area in southeast Wyoming, Snowy Range Ski Area, which have such “rolling hills.” One trail, “Rawhide,” is popular with local snowboarders because they can pop off a series of “rollers.” They are fun set of obstacles, but when jumping—if not just riding—over them, you are unable to see whether someone may be paused on the landings at the bottom of the hills. Hitting someone is always a possibility.

Maybe the very nature of ski areas and resorts is somewhat chaotic. Skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels and abilities are mixed in a seemingly-controlled jumble on the side of a mountain. Snowboarders with advanced talent ride alongside beginners on the same hills. Skiers go down black diamond trails and terrain parks, often out of curiosity, traversing the jumps and rails that require more expertise. The character of a ski area or resort just seems to foster possible mishaps that can result in injury and death, and it’s doubtful this can even be changed.

Accidents are bound to happen in such an environment. And sadly, that’s exactly what the incident at Hogadon can most aptly be characterized as: an accident. 

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