By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
It is easy to become emotionally invested in the superb new documentary
"Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche."
Directed by
Jared Drake ("The Wake of Light") and
Steven Siig ("Disrupted"), "Buried" chronicles the moments leading up to the avalanche at
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe, California on March 31, 1982 that killed seven people and left a community reeling.
"Buried" gives viewers an up close and personal account of the tragedy. It utilizes archival footage, reenactments and deeply moving interviews with Alpine Meadows Ski Resort patrol officials/directors, heroic rescue workers and even miraculous survivors like UC Davis student, Anna Conrad who was buried for five days until found by a rescue dog. Alpine Meadows employees Jeff Skover and Randy Buck were fortunate to escape alive too.
The documentary also reveals what attracted these men--and one woman--Meredith Watson--to pursue careers as ski patrollers and in avalanche and snow science. For most, especially Jim Plehn--an avalanche forecaster at the ski resort--it was simply the love of the outdoors and working in such a beautiful environment. Others called it "the best job they had in their lives."
While there are many in the film who discuss the tragedy, Plehn's account is among the most heart wrenching because after all these years he is still is haunted by that fateful day. He says that the "feeling of impending doom was impossible to ignore."
Plehn also recalls the morning of the avalanche and how the snow just felt different. He says it seemed "alive." There was a "twinkle" to the snow that he hadn't seen or experienced before.
Despite Plehn's and other officials’ best efforts at predicting avalanches, this one was so unique and off the charts that nothing could have prepared them for the extraordinary turn of events. They did everything right, and what they were trained to do. They dropped hand-made explosives on the most vulnerable drifts. They did all the proper "ski checking" and controlled avalanches with their skis to keep the "big one" from developing. Yet, this was the worst winter in storm history. Snow piled up over 103 inches within seconds. The wind was whipping at nearly 120 miles per hour.
Clearly Mother Nature had much more in store. They could not battle this beast using the minor technology they had at the time. To this day, as much as Plehn and others try to forget, they can't. A teary-eyed Plehn admits, hindsight always kicks in. It makes him and other workers wonder if they could have or should have done more.
"Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche" is an enthralling documentary. After 40 years, this story still has a chilling effect.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at my new times of 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Look At This Trailer For
"BURIED: THE 1982 ALPINE MEADOWS AVALANCHE"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
