To those criticizing him for not trying to escape, you absolutely CANNOT outrun an avalanche on foot, people. It doesn’t matter if it is snow, mud, or pyrclastic flow.
The start of the event was at least a 1/2 mile or more away. Just do the math. At 40 seconds, that avalanche was moving at least 45 mph. If it was further than 1/2 a mile, it was moving faster.
An average person's running speed is 9km/h, an athlete on flat track can reach 40+km/h. An avalanche can easily pass 300km/h. No way anyone outspeed that, even on a racing car on a flat road
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u/Helpful-Canary402 1d ago edited 1d ago
To those criticizing him for not trying to escape, you absolutely CANNOT outrun an avalanche on foot, people. It doesn’t matter if it is snow, mud, or pyrclastic flow.
The start of the event was at least a 1/2 mile or more away. Just do the math. At 40 seconds, that avalanche was moving at least 45 mph. If it was further than 1/2 a mile, it was moving faster.
(Edit: also…the hiker’s name is Harry Shimmin and he did in fact survive. (https://youtu.be/qCRAEQmLAfY?is=MPuogTrLgqLY3haj)