Yes, Haines is once again sort of famous. Or at least in a lot of mail boxes this week. The Snow 2013 issue of the Patagonia Catalog has a dramatic Haines avalanche on the cover. Which made my heart stop after the fatal accidents of the last two heli-ski seasons. The good news is that the boarder at the top of the slide was able to stop– and that he’s Haines resident Ryland Bell, which must be a first, and is pretty great for him and us. Still, the image and especially this caption, caused me to reach for the rosary beads, “Wake-up call. Ryland Bell clings to the spine after the first line of the day dropped from under him on the Dirty Needle. Haines, Alaska.” Holy Mary, mother of God, thank you– and pray for a safer winter and spring.
Ryland is that orange dot above the avalanche pictured on the cover.
