On a crisp March afternoon in 1982, a multi-day storm struck the Lake Tahoe area. The media was reporting avalanche on top of avalanche along with the mass amounts of snow that were falling every hour. The families who rented cabins were pushing furniture against sliding doors to help reinforce the barrier between them and the blizzard, as they wondered if there was a way for them to escape before they ran out of food. Yet, when an avalanche came barreling down the mountain, these cabins were the safest place to be. 

Volunteers all buried their trauma and stepped up to do everything they could to help in the face of devastation. 

Despite this wall of white creating a snow globe-esk look, the dangers and disappointment were felt to the bone at every body, bruised and blue, that was pulled from the snow. “A rescue mission is always, at best, controlled chaos- a fight against time, distance, terrain and the elements.”

Yet, Bridget, a German shepherd search and rescue dog was seen bounding happily in the snow, and tossing a piece of debris to herself. To anyone else, this might have been normal, or even expected behavior. After all, these dogs had been trained to find the bodies of those buried beneath the snow, and then rewarded for it. Yet, to her handler Bridgette was celebrating. And 3 days later, everyone would learn why. 

Welcome BACK to tragedy with a view. 

Sources: 

Book: Wall of White by Jennifer Woodlief 

https://tahoetopia.com/news/tragic-alpine-meadows-avalanche-march-31-1982

https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/buried-documentary-alpine-meadows-avalanche-1982/#

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patreon.com/TragedywithaView

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Uncut episodes,

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Picture it. 

Lake Tahoe.

The bright blue water surrounded by green trees with a grand, white mountain standing tall in the background. It’s postcard perfect, and if you were grabbing a postcard from the 1980s, you’d be sure to see a woman wearing a bikini and a smile on skis, gliding down the mountain, while men race each other to the bottom of the steep slopes. For some, this is the American dream, and for those living in the prime of their life in the 80s, this was exactly the ideas they were looking for. For some, this dream was a reality due to sacrifice and job placement, and for others this dream was a reality because they forced it into their schedule. And then there were those on the mountain on March 31, 1982. Living their adventurous, ski driven dreams. There is the hero of the story, there are those who sacrificed their lives for their jobs, some for the adventure, and for one, this big, blue, beautiful snow filled dream, became a nightmare. 

Welcome to tragedy with a view. 

Source: Wall of White by Jennifer Woodlief

Ask any runner, and we will confirm that running becomes and obsession. It’s a total mind and body take over and no matter what other exercise we find ourselves partaking in, nothing compares. 

We often don’t remember the hard parts. We remember the happy, the sometimes scary, the complete peace that comes with long distance running. We glance over the hard days of training and racing and romanticize the experience. 

Covering kilometers that often leave people gaping, we will confirm that  the runner's high is exactly as incredible of a feeling as described. We all have those moments, we’ve all hit the wall and we have all experienced the muscle and joint pain that comes when a race was harder than we expected. We’ve all shown up underfed, overspent and undertrained. And we’ve all contemplated dropping out, when a friendly face shouts “you’ve only got a few more miles.” And your vigor is restored. 

Some of us do it because we love running. Some of us are looking for anything that will keep us outdoors. Some of us do it for the t-shirt or to be able to post the medal-Monday picture on social media. Some of us walk away with ginormous smiles and some of us hobble away injured. Some of us have found that this is a place that we can excel, and money earned seems like a bonus. The reasons for running miles beyond what others would are as plentiful as the personalities of those running. 

And still, on a spring day in china, this blissful feeling was not experience. All 172 participants experienced fear, cold and dread as a storm rolled in. Eight of these runners barely made it out, and another 21 dropped dead. 

Welcome to Tragedy with a View. 

Sources

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gansu_ultramarathon_disaster

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/24/world/asia/china-ultramarathon-survivor.html

https://news.ultrasignup.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-running-100k/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/25/sports/ultramarathon-china-runners.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/11/china-punishes-27-officials-after-deadly-ultramarathon.html

https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvz7da/china-gansu-ultramarathon

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-deadliest-ultramarathon-claimed-21-runners-yellow-river-stone-forest-china-11633282937

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a30430651/more-people-are-running-ultras-study/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramarathon

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/26/survivors-and-bereaved-seek-answers-after-21-deaths-in-china-ultramarathon

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/03/world/asia/china-ultramarathon-deaths.html

https://runninglevel.com/running-times/100k-times

https://m.jiemian.com/article/6155382.html

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/china-gansu-ultramarathon-deaths-tragedy/

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/07/16/china-ultramarathon-tragedy-gansu-fad/

https://www.trailrunnermag.com/people/assessing-the-aftermath-of-the-chinese-ultrarunning-tragedy/

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/gansu/2013-10/24/content_17055979.htm

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingtai_County

https://www.nspirement.com/2021/06/01/deadly-gansu-ultramarathon.html

Nestled within the bounds of Olympic National Park lies a lake with water so pristine and blue, that you think the photos are fake. Rumor has it that many years ago while tribes were at war, a nearby mountain grew angry at the noise, and threw a stone from his top, burying all of those fighting, creating a Lake and laying to rest their dispute. Crescent Lake holds many secrets, and has never once gave up a body that slipped into her deaths. That is, of course, until one night in 1937, when a murdered woman was weighed down and carelessly tossed in. Nature works in mysterious ways, sometimes for humans wanting to hide their secrets, and other times, preserving the evidence for years, until it is exactly the right time to reveal what has been covered.

For 3 years, the murderer thought they had escaped. But From the dearth’s of her, lake crescent rose the body to the surface, displaying her weird and horrific talents to the world. Not only did she preserve the body, but she turned her body to soap. 

Sources: 

Amundson, Mavis. The Lady of the Lake. Western Gull Pub., 2000.

https://www.myolympicpark.com/park/history/the-lady-of-crescent-lake/

https://curiocity.com/this-beloved-washington-lake-once-turned-a-woman-into-soap/

https://www.podiumrunner.com/culture/tales-from-the-trail-the-lady-of-the-lake/

https://adventures-in-the-outdoors.blogspot.com/2016/06/FrigidHauntingofLakeCrescentOlympicNationalPark.html?m=1

https://www.backpacker.com/trips/haunted-hikes-for-halloween/

https://thebulletinboardweb.wordpress.com/2018/08/18/the-lady-of-crescent-lake/

https://www.marykayseales.com/shimmering-ice-blue-water-old-growth-forest-ghost-stories-round-campfire/

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/lake-crescent-wa/

https://frazerlee.wordpress.com/2017/02/03/guest-author-catherine-cavendish-on-the-lake-crescent-haunting/

https://www.historylink.org/File/8599

https://seeksghosts.blogspot.com/2014/07/washington-state-lady-of-lake.html?m=1

https://www.olympicnationalparks.com/lodging/lake-crescent-lodge/

https://www.werewoofs.com/ghost-stories/the-mysterious-lake-crescent/

https://skullsinthestars.com/2010/10/31/the-lady-of-the-lake-a-scientific-ghost-story/

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/lady-of-the-lake-wa/

https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/visiting-lake-crescent.htm

Fishing in Alaska is like your entire body taking a breath of fresh air. But Alaska is brutal. Between the immense amount of snow, freezing temperatures, winters where the sun doesn’t rise, and summers with an endless amount of sun, you still have to watch out for predatory animals at every turn in the wilderness. Yet, those who live there love the place, those who come temporarily can’t wait to return for more. Alaska is the outdoor lovers paradise. The sun light cascades over mountains, through thick forests, down winding rivers and into the hearts of those who visit. But, as with everything beautiful, calm and serene, Mother Nature keeps its wilderness carefully balanced. Thick and dense darkness can overcome the happiest of emotions, and what happens when that light goes out? 

Welcome to Tragedy with a View.

Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/7C4V7XxbpmG7nQU7AaiJIf?si=SXz6EjTdQLCOIwVR4zWjNQ

Bigley, Dan, and Debra McKinney. Beyond the Bear: How I Learned to Live and Love Again after Being Blinded by a Bear. Lyons Press, 2016.

https://www.newsdata.com/clearing_up/environment/wash-ore-ramp-up-salmon-fishing-monitoring/article_b6ca6a96-ccfe-11ec-a127-33745eecf2b0.html

Fishing in Alaska is like your entire body taking a breath of fresh air. But Alaska is brutal. Between the immense amount of snow, freezing temperatures, winters where the sun doesn’t rise, and summers with an endless amount of sun, you still have to watch out for predatory animals at every turn in the wilderness. Yet, those who live there love the place, those who come temporarily can’t wait to return for more. Alaska is the outdoor lovers paradise. The sun light cascades over mountains, through thick forests, down winding rivers and into the hearts of those who visit. But, as with everything beautiful, calm and serene, Mother Nature keeps its wilderness carefully balanced. Thick and dense darkness can overcome the happiest of emotions, and what happens when that light goes out? 

This, is Dan Bigley’s story.

Bigley, Dan, and Debra McKinney. Beyond the Bear: How I Learned to Live and Love Again after Being Blinded by a Bear. Lyons Press, 2016.

https://www.newsdata.com/clearing_up/environment/wash-ore-ramp-up-salmon-fishing-monitoring/article_b6ca6a96-ccfe-11ec-a127-33745eecf2b0.html

While other pools may be hotter, or larger, Celestine is by far the most beautiful. Shades of blue as deep and rich as the sky blanket the earth in a place where steam rises from the within. But with this beauty comes the unpredictable activity experienced by many who pass by her on the boardwalk, from a calming meditative sound to a rolling boil, Celestine poses no threat to those who respect her space. Yet, those who invade the depths of this pool hardly walk away. 

Welcome to tragedy with a view. 

I want you to take a moment and imagine with me. Close your eyes. Take a full breath. 

You’re laying on your belly, head tilted to the side, arms outstretched overhead and enfolding you in a cold, hard bear hug is solid rock. You have just enough space to flex your feet, connect your toes to the rock and scoot yourself forward with the help of your clawing finger tips. 

Then, as the space becomes tighter, you exhale the air from your lungs to give yourself a millimeter of space to move. The cave closes in, and yet you push forward. Because you know you are going someplace that 99% of the population wouldn’t dare. 

This tight passage is the journey and you never know when or how that journey will end. 

Sources: 

https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0528914/?ref_=nmbio_ov

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jun/27/usa.features11

https://nssmembersforum.proboards.com/thread/74/1965-schroeder-pants-cave

https://www.foxnews.com/story/filmmaker-to-retrieve-body-of-spelunker-who-died-41-years-ago

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2006/jun/25/cave-explorers-body-recovered/

http://forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1972

https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-06-25-cave-remains_x.htm

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1965/2/15/explorer-trapped-in-cave-dies-as/

https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-track-your-route-when-youre-underground-GPS-caving-outdoors

The beautiful Zion National Park, located in southwest Utah, is among the most visited National Parks in the United States. As the sun crests over the ridge in the morning, and as it dips below in the evenings, the red rocks bloom with color as each new layer is illuminated. In contrast, the rich green from the trees and foliage blanket the canyon floors, creating a welcoming that you can’t deny as it draws you in. Fresh, flowing water from the Virgin river and birds singing gives a background noise so peaceful it is hard to hold in your own smile. Yet, mother nature will playfully sink her claws into you before you have time to notice. Flooding and rock fall are a common occurrence, and often shut trails down. The narrows are a common site for drownings, and some trails are closed long term due to the damage sustained from the ground giving way. Mother Nature is a force, yet we risk our lives for the views at angels landing, and it is often by our own accord, that death comes knocking.

We are active on all social media platforms, you can find us by our name: Tragedy with a View

Sources include:

https://theworldtravelguy.com/angels-landing-deaths-list/

https://www.downthetrail.com/exploring-utah/angels-landing-trail-guide-zion-deaths/

https://archives.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/09/08/jek-rescue-sleepover-with-fallen-hiker-off-angels-landing-trail/#.ZEhlsKTMIWM

https://trailandsummit.com/has-anyone-died-hiking-angels-landing/

https://www.eastzionadventures.com/blog/celebrating-100-years-of-adventure-in-zion-national-park/

http://npshistory.com/morningreport/incidents/zion.htm