Snowboarder Apologizes To Family, Owns Up To Mistakes That Caused Avalanche
Snowboarder Jacob Erickson triggered an avalanche, then did something very few would ever consider: he admitted he made a mistake.
Not only did Erickson admit to making one mistake that led to the avalanche he captured on a GoPro camera attached to his helmet, but he admitted to multiple mistakes and apologized profusely to his friends and family.
"I am not proud of what I did on this day, and I am very lucky to have the chance to learn from this," writes Erickson in the caption of his Instagram post. "I hope you can learn from my mistakes as well."
Tap or click to watch the video of Erickson nearly being swept away in a large avalanche.
Keep reading for more on the mistakes he made, and what he's learned since.
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According to Erickson's caption, he made multiple "major" mistakes, including riding alone, disregarding "whumph" sounds, failing to test the slope, and ultimately putting pressure on himself to film and score a lap before sunset.
Whumph is a word used to describe the sound of snow layers settling, collapsing, or condensing. Hearing them, especially in the backcountry, is a sign that the snowpack may be unstable.
Erickson also admits that his judgment was "clouded" throughout the day by things like time constraints, a busy personal schedule, and climate anxiety.
"To all my family and friends who are reading this post, I sincerely apologize for my selfish behaviour and promise to make smarter decisions moving forward," writes Erickson. "I am compiling a list of touring partners so that I never end up in this situation again."
Jacob Erickson
While he certainly made mistakes and is lucky to be alive, Erickson is being celebrated in the comments for owning up, providing the footage, and offering it as a learning opportunity for others.
"Thank you for sharing. So glad you're okay," writes former Olympic snowboarder Elena Hight.
"Respect on posting," chimed in professional skier Dylan Siggers.