Colorado Backcountry: Doug Coombs Legend

First I need to start with some very sad news, yesterday Doug Coombs and another skier were killed in the mountains above La Grave, France. Doug founded Valdez Heli-Ski Guides out of Alaska in 1993 and has made an immeasurable amount contributions to the backcountry, Alaska skiing, skiing in general and Alpine guiding. Please join us in sending your thoughts and prayers to the families involved. Another fallen great, reminds me of when Criag Kelly died. These guys are legends and will never be forgotten! R.I.Pow

More About Doug and Accident Details:

"Coombs was extremely well known at la Grave which he had made his second home. Star of numerous extreme skiing movies, twice the World Extreme Ski champion he had founded and subsequently sold Valdez Heli Ski Guides and operated Steep Skiing Camps Worldwide. He is survived by his wife, Emily and young son David. Prophetically Doug had once said that he imagined the slopes under the majestic peak of la Meije "would last a lifetime".

La Grave is a vast off-piste area with two main itineary routes and countless other routes. It is a worldwide mecca for off-piste skiers, in particular from Sweden and North America. Avalanche accidents and falls are relatively uncommon but have killed some well known and popular figures. In April 2003 German guide Philip Jaerschky was killed by an avalanche in the couloir de Chirouze In April 2004 Romain Berger was killed by a slide above the Trifides couloirs while praticing for the Derby de la Meije. A Spanish guide was killed by an avalanche on the nearby Tête de Sainte Marguerite on Saturday.

With much cooler temperatures the avalanche risk at the time of the accident was 2 (Moderate) on a scale of 5 and the bulletin noted the possibility of some very localized slabs in the area as well as some limited natural activity where there had not already been purges the day before. With the zero isotherm around 2200 meters after a good overnight refreeze it should have been perfect Spring skiing conditions.

Doug Coombs started skiing at three years old. After four years on Montana State University Ski Team he began heli-ski guiding in 1986. In 1991 he won the World Extreme Skiing Championships at Valdez in Alaska. The following year he returned to Valdex to pioneer some first descents in the Chugach Range. He founded Valdez Heli-Ski Guides with his wife Emily, in a few years it grew to a team of 12 guides and 3 helicopters. Today there are 5 guided operations in the area. Coombs returned to Valdez in 1992 to log another win at the Extreme Skiing World Championships." -pistehors.com

More Information and Links:
www.valdezheliskiguides.com
www.pistehors.com
Teton Gravity


Doug Coombs - Otterbody Cooly - Grand Teton, WY