"In the past, avalanche tragedies were viewed mainly as natural events, with post-mortem analysis focused mainly on physical factors such as snow load, slope angle and weather conditions. As a result of an influential 2002 paper by avalanche writer Ian McCammon, it is now accepted that multi-fatality avalanche accidents are social phenomena, with the outcome (human deaths) attributable less to natural forces and more to bad decisions."
"The recent Castle Peak (California) ski tragedy, in which nine people lost their lives, offers an opportunity to test the validity of McCammon's theory. Four heuristic 'traps' were identified by avalanche writer Ian McCammon for understanding bad ski decisions."
Avalanche accidents were historically analyzed as natural events focusing on physical factors like snow load and slope angle. A 2002 paper by avalanche writer Ian McCammon established that multi-fatality avalanche accidents are social phenomena where human deaths result primarily from poor decision-making rather than natural forces. McCammon identified four heuristic traps explaining bad ski decisions. The Castle Peak, California ski tragedy, where nine women customers died, provides a case study for testing McCammon's theory. The group consisted of four guides and twelve customers, mostly mothers from the Bay Area participating in an anticipated annual ski week outing at Frog Lake hut near Sugar Bowl resort.
Read at Psychology Today
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