Dennis
Reged: 04/05/04
Posts: 3156
Loc: Chicago
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Former ABC News reporter McWethy dies in ski accident
Story Highlights
NEW: John McWethy was wearing helmet during fatal ski accident, paper reports
McWethy, 61, reported live from Pentagon immediately after 9/11 attacks
ABC exec: He "knew his beat better than anyone" and had "more sources"
McWethy had retired to be near ski slopes, golf courses, says ABC statement
KEYSTONE, Colorado (AP) -- John McWethy, a retired ABC News correspondent who had to flee the Pentagon after the 2001 attacks but continued reporting live, died Wednesday after a skiing accident. He was 61.
Witnesses said McWethy was skiing fast on an intermediate trail when he missed a turn and slid chest-first into a tree, Summit County Coroner Joanne L. Richardson said. McWethy died of blunt force injuries, she said.
Keystone Ski Resort spokeswoman Kate Lessman told The Denver Post that McWethy was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
McWethy and his wife, Laurie, moved to Boulder after he retired to be closer to ski slopes and golf courses, ABC News President David Westin said in a statement. Before then, McWethy had been ABC News' chief national security correspondent.
He had to leave the Pentagon after a hijacked plane crashed into the building in 2001 attacks, but he kept reporting from a nearby lawn, Westin recalled.
"He was one of those very rare reporters who knew his beat better than anyone, and had developed more sources than anyone, and yet, kept his objectivity," Westin said.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate by his alma mater, DePauw University, and had a master's degree from Columbia University's journalism school.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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you want some staggering statistics..not one woman has died in an inbound ski related accident in 30 years.... virtually all inbound ski accidents resulting in massive trauma or death involve men who think they are better than the are, who are usually on equipment beyond their abilities ( thanks to the friendly stoner who appeals to their hormones and up sells it to them ), and almost exclusivelly happen on intermediate trails, not on advanced or expert trails....
the other issue is that trail ratings are very hazy from region to region....the double diamond, imminent death trails we have here at WV would be an easier diamond trail in most Colorado resorts..conversely a LOT of the intermediate trails out west and particularly at Keystone, where this accident occurred, would easily be a black diamond trail back east
people need to realize that when you ski 5 days a year...you need to go slow and be careful..especially in an environment where you are getting 25-30% less oxygen to your brain....leave the Warren Miler skiing to the guys and gals who ski 50-100 days a year
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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Keystone's grooming encourages high-speed on the blue trails (if they weren't groomed, they'd be black) and it's easy to go faster than your ability to recover from an unexpected obstacle. I was there earlier this season trying to keep up with my son who, to rub it in, was on tele skis. On steep trails, you tend to pay more attention. My falls usually come when I'm fairly relaxed on green trails.
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Dennis
Reged: 04/05/04
Posts: 3156
Loc: Chicago
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Interesting.
I recall back when I used to ski, we would go balls out the first day. Making up for lost time. And, of course, we'd have the burger/beer/beer/beer lunch and a bag of schnapps across our backs. (And some of us had a little something extra to smoke on the lifts) We were mostly lucky. A buddy separated his shoulder at Breck one day. I managed a slight tear in a MCL once, on the last day thank God. A few bruised butts, etc. Of course, we were younger then...we healed quicker.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Quote:
Of course, we were younger then...we healed quicker.
BINGO..we have a winner...LOL
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Quote:
On steep trails, you tend to pay more attention. My falls usually come when I'm fairly relaxed on green trails.
true but how many times do you see people ( men ), in rental equipment, on trails they have no business being on.......as far as falls occurring on relaxed green trails go that is sooooo true....in 91 I was living in Colorado and instructing at A Basin and the girl I was dating was also an instructor and a kick ass ex racer skier.....and we had some time off so we went and skied the East Wall...the real nasty part of the East Wall too...and we ripped it....and when we came down to the flats right before the chair.....she caught an edge and blew out her knee......how freakin cruel is that?????>....
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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here is the article from the local paper.....he was on Pocupine trail which isnt that difficult of a trail in the Outback
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080206/NEWS/934459529
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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I hate the runouts after most tough terrain. Your legs are jelly and you're trying to keep your speed up on wavy, inconsistent, narrow trails after the fun part is over. Case in point is this slope. A few minutes of fun followed by sketchy picking through flat, wavy, glades. I ended up on the wrong side of a creek. I'm sure you've been there, Miker. Hey, this can be as much fun as tim's quizzes.
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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Hint for Miker (and others?): It's at Keystone
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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damn Im terrible at this game but it does look above treeline and there isnt a lot of terain above treeline there....maybe one of the cat bowls like North Bowl or Bergman..or Ericksen??...possibly the very top of the Outback by the Windows???
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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OK, I'll accept that. Hike up to Outback bowl and head south off the cornice. Next, just name this ski area.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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no clue
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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Big hint: Closest area to Denver.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Loveland
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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or Winter Park
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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You're thinking like a tourist - Eldora.
Next - you may not have been here:
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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sure!..Eldora..makes perfect sense seeing that your son lives in Boulder...see I told you I sucked at this game....heck I cant even recognize people Im suppose to know...how the hell do you expect me to remember mountains....LOL....it looks like someone dropped a giant starfish right on the top of that moutain....
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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Need more players. Here's another view in that area. Not in Colorado.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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alright..2 can play this game
where am I????
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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Near the top of Copper looking toward the Ten Mile range and North.
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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...and your form is terrible ;-)
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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damn
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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OK..Ill get you with this one for sure
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Quote:
...and your form is terrible ;-)
Im standing for a picture...what the hell form am I supposed to have???...LOL...we were heading up to Spaulding Bowl that day...the POMA is just behind the photographer
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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Yeah, that's what I figured. I usually just hiked instead of the Poma but that's when I was acclimated.
I also figure you're not at the top of a ski mountain at sunset in that photo so it's a view from your place in Colorado?
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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and this.....
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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That looks familiar. Tuckerman's?
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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ok I quit..you're e too damn good......you re not technically correct on the first one.... it is by my place... directly behind my place, as in backyard is the trail, is Buffalo Mountain which as you know is a mountain which gets lots of back country hiking to ski and heli skiing and where I should have lost my life in an avalanche in 91 but got a class at the last minute and couldnt go with the boys....3 of the 5 whom died......this was a sunrise shot towards the divide as we were hiking up to ski it that morning....
and yes the other one is Tucks
I'll keep looking to stump you.....but I dont know..you re pretty good..or maybe Im just so bad at this everyone looks good to me...LOL
ok..gotta game tonight ...I have to get changed and catch the bus.....later
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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Quote:
you re pretty good.
Sign of a misspent youth ....
..... not to mention a misspent old age
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Kara Brooks
Reged: 09/30/02
Posts: 1394
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"Be careful out there" -- very good advice. I am seriously trying to get my parents to retire to flatter ground (my dad just broke his clavicle skiing at Keystone a few days ago (this follows a broken leg two years ago -- at Keystone as well)).
I have skied the area that Josh posted at Keystone a few years back. Truly an embarrassing day for me! I was in the process of buying new skis and doing a demo on a pair that day (thus - the heavy ass bindings that were not much fun on the little hike up (and this was a time before the curved ski so they were super long to suit my overinflated ego)). My cousins are all crazy good skiers and a few turns into the run I was toast. I took a wrong turn there somewhere as well and remember a long trek back. A year later I took a nasty fall (torn rotator cuff and concussion) on Starfire (again - Keystone) which was PERFECTLY groomed. My shoulder has never been the same and my desire to ski has greatly diminished ever since.
I am also now scared of the surf and big waves but that is a story (stories) for another day.
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Kara Brooks
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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no doubt about it you can get going really fast on some of Keystones groomers...I got to tell you Kara...Starfire is one of favorites for just letting your skis go and cranking....I took Martin, Janine.Roy and Dee there and we had a blast....well maybe Dee didnt...LOL...but that is a trail which would definetly be a black diamond at Waterville.....
I see you got the accident prone gene from your Dad....LOL
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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Kara and Miker: If I have to knock Keystone (aside from the altitude headache I now get), I'd say they groom too well - probably to keep traffic flowing among the various peaks. Their groomers feel all the same to me and get lots of traffic. I think that causes accidents. I look for the gladed runs on North Peak and Outback which can be really fun and keep you interested, especially on powder days.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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I agree on Keystone...but it has become a major resort which has to handle a LOT of skiers at once....and groomed stuff is what they want....but I think there is huge difference in the groomed trails there...no comparing StarFire or MineShaft to say, Frenchmen or Paymaster....Im not a glades person anyway...I'll do it but its not what I prefer......I want to get out and go...hard and fast...either in ungroomed snow or groomed ..makes no difference to me....I want it steep and I want it fast.....wide open bowls above tree line.....avalanche chutes...thats what I want...glades and bumps do nothing for me
skiing today in New England was every bit as good as a good day out west......what a treat it was at Cannon
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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Quote:
....wide open bowls above tree line.....avalanche chutes...thats what I want..
Yeah, you want back bowls at Vail (without people) or here ...
... probably my fave.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080209/NEWS/234129860
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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and this.....
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080209/NEWS/877432839
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JoshA
Reged: 08/28/05
Posts: 2239
Loc: Virginia
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I know this is a bad year for avalanches because of multiple unstable snow layers, wind loading, cold temperatures, etc. My son and his friends are pretty savvy about checking slope conditions and are well-equipped with avalanche beacons and shovels but I do worry every time I hear they are going to ski Silverton or Berthoud pass or the back country around Eldora. I still think he's living the dream.
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