I guess I'm just lucky

I guess I’m just lucky to have survived this far.

The recent deaths of a backcountry snow-biker, and a horn hunter hit me particularly hard. I didn’t know either victim, but I knew what they were doing and where they were doing it. I’d been there.

While I’ve never been caught in an avalanche it wasn’t because of any great care taken by me to avoid one. I skied Miller Mountain above Cooke City where the snow-biker died many times, never fearing for my safety. I should have.

I should have paid closer attention to snow conditions, too, but I didn’t. I should have avoided avalanche...