r/theydidthemath • u/Fizzerolli • 3d ago

[request] Assuming fresh powdery snow, how deep would it have to be for the paratrooper to survive, if possible?

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My son sent me this. My immediate thought based on nothing is that it’s unsurvivable regardless of the depth.

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u/Mathi_boy04 3d ago

I think even if the snow is deep and light enough to cushion the impact, you will go so deep into the snow you won't be able to get yourself out of it and will "drown" like people stuck in avalanches.

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u/Fizzerolli 3d ago

Oh for sure, I meant die on impact.

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u/Far_Tap_488 2d ago

255 ft in 2006 https://youtu.be/-RYkapHBVs8

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u/Smash_Shop 2d ago

First comment on that video is absolute gold

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u/stnrnts 2d ago

Why tf would someone do this

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u/izeek11 3d ago

this. on winter jumps in snow, we'd have to retrieve dumbasseses that ignored the warning to aim for high ground or risk getting stuck. it was a efn pia trying rope lassoes, ladders and what not. dumbasseses be buried up to their shoulders.

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u/quad_up 2d ago

Depends on the slope. Back in like 2005-2010 skiers were regularly hitting 100ft+ cliffs, “taking a hip” and skiing away. Essentially you land on your back or side and bounce back on your skis and ski away.

The record was something like 240ft, but I remember reading it was insignificant because someone fell out of a plane from like 25k, landed on the right kind of slope and walked away.

Them were some wild times back then. People still huck, but not like they used to.

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u/kolitics 2d ago

One soldier get parachute and shovel.