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Blue Lake - That Day the Mountain Fell 16-Sep-2008 At 3:08:54 PM jules78

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Hi Nick & Owen

I've just come across this forum. It saddened me greatly to read your report. I was up snowshoeing/skiing on Twynam/Little Twynam that day probably only minutes before the avalanche happened. We (myself & two guys) had camped on the Eastern side of Little Twynam, not far from the summit, the night before, and headed back down to camp for lunch. We were on the western side of Twynam at about 12.20pm, and back at camp within about half an hour or so. We traversed the southern side of Twynam on the way down and were looking out over Blue Lake for a good bit of the way. We had seen the cornices and commented on how dangerous they looked, and had been extra careful to stay well away from them. So we were right there the whole time...but must have just turned to the east minutes before it all happened.

We didn't see or hear anything, and were oblivious to the fact that anyone was in trouble until we heard the chopper circling overhead while we were eating lunch. If only we had known what had happened, we could have gone down to help. We had a snow shovel and full safety gear as well (had been contemplating some climbing around the lake ourselves).... But we simply didn't know. And for some reason none of us thought to climb back up Little Twynam to try and see what was happening. We had met another skier named Andrew about an hour earlier who had lost his buddy (who coincidentally was also named Tom) - and I guess we just assumed that they were looking for him, or he had been hurt or something, and didn't think there was anything we could do. You never imagine something like this could really happen. After we got back and heard news of the accident, we were all wishing if only we had known, if only we'd thought to go look....we could have helped. Not that it probably would have made a difference in the end....there was such a large area to search....and yet at least we would have felt like we tried. Maybe the demons in my own mind would be a little quieter...

We met a bunch of people up there that morning....I guess I'll never know whether Tom & Peter were amongst those we crossed paths with. I'm sure the others that were up there would be struggling with the same questions and sadness over not being there to help when help was needed. I'm glad at least that you guys were there....I'm sure Peter and the family will always be grateful for your efforts.