AVALANCHE EXPERT KILLED BY IRONY

The director of an avalanche center in Oregon who taught winter survival and avalanche awareness courses has died in an avalanche. Wallowa Avalanche Center Director Kip Rand was killed Tuesday in a steep fall and avalanche. Rand was skiing near Chief Joseph Mountain in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. According to his skiing partner, Rand was caught at the top of an avalanche and carried 600 feet down a nearly vertical slope. Rand initially survived the slide but was dead by the time help arrived.
* That had to have been a tough few last minutes.
* His last words: “See???”
* So close. If he had just lived a couple of more weeks ’til Spring, at least he could have completed the Winter Survival part.
* Those who can’t do, teach. He couldn’t survive avalanches, so he taught how to.
* So – how could die from this if he was such an expert? Did he fake his resume?
* First mistake: Skiing somewhere whose name has the word “wilderness” in it.
* “Wilderness,” as in: “No one in their right mind would put an actual ski run here.”
* 600 feet almost straight down? That would do it.
* The category? Things that can’t happen to me on my sofa.
* Oh, every now and then some of the snacks have a little avalanche onto the floor, but that’s about it.
* It’s sort of like when the instructor at the gun safety class shoots himself.