Tvan
Angel Diva
I have mixed feelings about risking one’s life on a solo venture, particularly on hard-to-reach terrain. What about the rescuers? If you’re under the snow where there is high avalanche danger, you’ve just invited a bunch of rescuers - snow rangers, in this case - to venture into avy territory, rushing, to save your life. One of the rangers in the MWAC report did not wait for a lookout but headed down to the burial site alone. Heroic, and it was his choice too, I guess, but the original skier put him in that position.
It is not unknown for rescuers to get injured or die in these situations. So it seems it’s not just a decision for oneself, but the solo risk-taker may ultimately put rescuers’ lives in danger.
These are my thoughts as well. I can make a choice for myself, but first responders will respond regardless of the reason for the need. While it’s their job, it’s one thing to respond in the case of a natural disaster, it’s altogether another to respond in the case of a risky solo excursion.