Parents of Granite State skier killed in 2015 educate others of danger on mountains
Brass Avalanche Foundation created by parents
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Updated: 7:29 PM EST Mar 7, 2021
Brass Avalanche Foundation created by parents
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Updated: 7:29 PM EST Mar 7, 2021
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LIFE. IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE TRAGEDY STRUCK A FRANCONIA FAMILY. ELITE SKIER RONNIE BERLACK AND HIS U.S. SKI TEAMMATE BRYCE ASTLE WERE KILLED IN AN AVALANCHE WHILE SKIING OFF GROOMED TRAIL IN AUSTRIA. >> IT HAD BEEN VERY COLD AND NOT MUCH SNOW AND THEN THERE WAS A LOT OF SNOW SO THERE WAS A SLIPPERY SURFACE. MIKE: BERLACK’S PARENTS TURNED THEIR GRIEF INTO ACTION STARTING THE BRASS AVALANCHE FOUNDATION. THEY’VE REACHED 5,000 ATHLETES AND COACHES NATIONWIDE, TEACHING THEM SNOW AND AVALANCHE SAFETY. WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THEY WENT VIRTUAL. >> HAVE THE GEAR, GET SOME TRAINING, GET THE FORECAST, GET THE PICTURE AS TO WHAT’S ACTUALLY GOING ON IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THEN GET OUT OF HARM’S WAY. MIKE: THEIR MISSION IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT NOW. ACCORDING TO THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER , THERE HAVE BEEN 33 AVALANCHE FATALITIES IN THE U.S. THIS SEASON. THAT’S ALREADY 10 MORE THAN ALL OF LAST WINTER. FEBRUARY WAS THE DEADLIEST MONTH IN A DECADE, INCLUDING THE DEATH OF AN EXPERIENCED SKIER ON THE AMMONOOSUC RAVINE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> YOU CAN STILL PUT YOURSELF AT GREAT RISK RECREATING IN AREAS THAT YOU’RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH , AND WE’VE SEEN NATIONWIDE PEOPLE GETTING KILLED DOING THE SAME THINGS THEY’VE DONE EVERY YEAR SAFELY, BUT IT’S TREACHEROUS THIS YEAR. MIKE: THE BERLACKS SAY CONDITIONS OFF GROOMED TRAILS CAN BE DANGEROUS YEAR-ROUND. >> KNOW WHO YOU’RE OUT WITH, THEIR LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE VOICING YOUR DOUBTS. MIKE: THERE’S A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION, VIDEOS, AND WEBINARS THROUGH THE FOUNDATION THAT THE BERLACKS CREA