The Story of the Tunnel Creek Avalanche

This podcast episode tells the story of a group of freeskiers who were caught in a massive avalanche while skiing in the backcountry of Washington state's Cascade Mountain range. The episode features an interview with John Branch, a sports and adventure journalist who wrote a Pulitzer Prize-winning article about the avalanche. He shares how he came across the story and how it inspired him to write the immersive multimedia experience called 'Snowfall'. The episode explores the allure of backcountry skiing and the dangers involved in venturing outside the ski resort boundaries. It delves into the geography of Tunnel Creek and the specific factors that led to the deadly avalanche. The podcast also delves into the psychology of extreme sports enthusiasts and their relationship with fear. Lastly, it examines the aftermath of the tragedy, including the grief of the survivors and the changes in avalanche awareness and safety training within the skiing community.