I Was Caught in an Avalanche! – Walk the Walk Stories ep.1 – Jacob Wester

During one of the filming days for Walk The Walk, I was caught in an avalanche. Having skied professionally for two decades, this was the very first time it happened, despite countless hours navigating and skiing in avalanche terrain. This video is a behind-the-scenes look at what led up to the accident, the decision-making typically involved in our risk-assessment, the different types of risk-tolerance among backcountry skiers, and how I approach terrain and snowpack where I know there is an elevated risk for avalanches.

I hope it will shed some light on what happened and how it could have been prevented. I know I’m lucky to have made it out alive and well, and I’m well aware of the many other possible outcomes. Whenever you expose yourself to steep mountains with fresh snow, the danger of an avalanche always looms.

Principal cinematography: Sofia Wester Sjöberg

Additional cinematography: Paul Norheim, Trygg Lindkjølen, Henrik Ulleland, Nikolai Schirmer

Skiing by: Jacob Wester, Trygg Lindkjølen, Henrik Ulleland, Emil Leenderts, Lars Storli

Music by: Weval, Jacob Wester

Supported by:
Rossignol https://www.rossignol.com
Dometic https://www.dometic.com