D
Duvall Dean
Well-known member
this is starting to sound like the reports out of Iraq. Why is God
punishing us???
signed deeply saddened, DD
punishing us???
signed deeply saddened, DD
8 missing in avalanche near fernie
- Thread starter Jay
- Start date
Thanks H2.
There are a lot of members on here that are though,
I sure hope they aren't anyone I know.
Guess time will reveal.
There are a lot of members on here that are though,
I sure hope they aren't anyone I know.
Guess time will reveal.
just found this off of another canadian news site...
not sounding good.
jeff
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081228/BC_avalanche_081228/20081229?hub=Canada
not sounding good.
jeff
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081228/BC_avalanche_081228/20081229?hub=Canada
S
STRAYPUSSY
Active member
hope the boys are all ok.......
K
knee deep in it
Well-known member
It is a good thing we had a party at our house last night or I would be down in the Crowsnest today.
Paid ave course? Hell - we can't even get the local dealerships to show people a snowmobile club application for 35 clams! Guess we'll have to start grooming the slopes, not just the access routes. By the end of this we'll have 1200ac terrain parks just like the ski areas. I think in Utah they call them "Complexes" or something like that..
MD.
MD.
M
MenzToys
Member
Went up yesterday to shovel cabin roof off 4feet at 4000ft. was raining making a crust,noticed layers when cleaning roof from previous snowfall over 2 feet of powder on top still snowing here.we have no base you can pinit and go down to dirt anywhere.Our club right now will not groom into the Ladybird area as there is not enough snow and we do not want riders in there with the high avalanche risk,we have posted signs at the bottom of the trail warning riders of this danger but many ignore the warnings and go anyways. Our snow is very unstable right now so most of the locals are not riding any where near the extreme areas sticking to the meadows.Please be carefull as none of us want to be a statistic. Wayne -castlegar snowmobile ***. p.s.going to buy 2 abs packs this year one for me and one for 18 year old son ,wife said don't come home if he is not with you;can't imagine what that would be like but some fellow members are going through this situation now how horrible.Will put on visa or mastecard but probably line of credit as interest is less;but what is life worth??????
Its a small valley. the sledders were from sparwood. everyone knows everyone almost. know just a waiting game to find out who it is. heard that 4 more got out, 4 still missing.
H
H2SNOW
ACCOUNT CLOSED
Jesus, too frickin early in the season and this is already getting nuts. My prayers to the boys, and their familys.
Verry sad news. I hope this turns out better then it sounds.
R
RideGuy
Well-known member
Hoping for the best for those folks.....
Temptations people..... Resist for a little while longer.... I know we all want to tune our sleds and ride the new iron...... Manage your Risks!!!! Lets hope the pack can bond cause I for one do not like the air pocket underneath.... Hope it warms up and bases this schwack up!!!!
Road Riding, Meadows, Cabin's and B-BQ's are still great fun!!!!!
Time and Place folks.....
Wayne/ Menstoyz... Good to know that the club isn't grooming into Ladybird!!!! Lot's of fun riding club side..... And just going cabin to cabin....
Coxy or Wayne.... How far past the airport have people been??
Seasons Greetings All
Temptations people..... Resist for a little while longer.... I know we all want to tune our sleds and ride the new iron...... Manage your Risks!!!! Lets hope the pack can bond cause I for one do not like the air pocket underneath.... Hope it warms up and bases this schwack up!!!!
Road Riding, Meadows, Cabin's and B-BQ's are still great fun!!!!!
Time and Place folks.....
Wayne/ Menstoyz... Good to know that the club isn't grooming into Ladybird!!!! Lot's of fun riding club side..... And just going cabin to cabin....
Coxy or Wayne.... How far past the airport have people been??
Seasons Greetings All
Holy sh!t I know a lot of people from that area...Sitting here with my fingers crossed for everybody envolved...
if its true that 4 did get out then that right there is a miracle with half of the missing all alive so far...hope for 4 more
from what ive read in the western canada section one slide got a bunch of them and a another group came to help find the victims when a second slide came down and buried them
December 28, 2008
FERNIE AVALANCHE BURIES SNOWMOBILERS
Fernie: Two avalanches in the mountains outside Fernie has left eight snowmobilers unaccounted for.
The incident took place when some members from a group of seven snowmobilers were buried by an avalanche in the Harvey Pass area – a popular backcountry snowmobile destination located about 40 Km south of Fernie. A second group of four snowmobilers heard yelling from the area and came to the aid of members from the first group who were in the process of digging out their fellow riders. The newly formed group was able to locate one rider, but as they were digging him out at a depth of about three meters a second avalanche came down and buried the entire group. All of them were wearing avalanche beacons.
Two of the buried riders managed to self-rescue within about 20 minutes. These two used their avalanche beacons to locate a third buried victim who they rescued after an additional 20 minutes of digging.
The surviving group of three assessed the slope stability and their surroundings. They were located in a large bowl with massive cornices ready to come down. Based on their risk assessment of the possibility of a third avalanche, they began walking out. Eight snowmobilers are now unaccounted for. All 11 snowmobilers involved are males from the nearby town of Sparwood.
The Provincial Emergency Program was notified about the event at approximately 2:30 PM (Mountain Time) when automated distress calls were received from communications devices worn by the snowmobilers. A helicopter was quickly dispatched to the scene that picked up two of the three survivors. The third survivor was transported by ground with the assistance of Fernie Search and Rescue personnel. The three sustained minor injuries. One will be held in hospital for observation overnight.
A command post was established at the road access point to the scene, but due to the obvious avalanche hazard and growing darkness, the search for survivors had to be postponed until morning.
Approximately 70 CM of new snow has fallen in the mountains surrounding Fernie over the past few days. The Canadian Avalanche Centre is describing the avalanche hazard in this area as “high”. A plan is currently being developed that will involve establishing increased slope stability at the avalanche site before the search can resume at first light.
RCMP resources from Elk Valley Detachment and E Division are working with Fernie Search and Rescue and Provincial Emergency Program officials to assist with the search. RCMP avalanche trained police dogs are currently en-route to the scene.
The families of the missing snowmobilers have been notified about this tragedy. No further information will be released at this time. Additional information will be released on Monday. Please monitor www.bc-rcmp.ca for information about a media availability in the Fernie area.
from what ive read in the western canada section one slide got a bunch of them and a another group came to help find the victims when a second slide came down and buried them
December 28, 2008
FERNIE AVALANCHE BURIES SNOWMOBILERS
Fernie: Two avalanches in the mountains outside Fernie has left eight snowmobilers unaccounted for.
The incident took place when some members from a group of seven snowmobilers were buried by an avalanche in the Harvey Pass area – a popular backcountry snowmobile destination located about 40 Km south of Fernie. A second group of four snowmobilers heard yelling from the area and came to the aid of members from the first group who were in the process of digging out their fellow riders. The newly formed group was able to locate one rider, but as they were digging him out at a depth of about three meters a second avalanche came down and buried the entire group. All of them were wearing avalanche beacons.
Two of the buried riders managed to self-rescue within about 20 minutes. These two used their avalanche beacons to locate a third buried victim who they rescued after an additional 20 minutes of digging.
The surviving group of three assessed the slope stability and their surroundings. They were located in a large bowl with massive cornices ready to come down. Based on their risk assessment of the possibility of a third avalanche, they began walking out. Eight snowmobilers are now unaccounted for. All 11 snowmobilers involved are males from the nearby town of Sparwood.
The Provincial Emergency Program was notified about the event at approximately 2:30 PM (Mountain Time) when automated distress calls were received from communications devices worn by the snowmobilers. A helicopter was quickly dispatched to the scene that picked up two of the three survivors. The third survivor was transported by ground with the assistance of Fernie Search and Rescue personnel. The three sustained minor injuries. One will be held in hospital for observation overnight.
A command post was established at the road access point to the scene, but due to the obvious avalanche hazard and growing darkness, the search for survivors had to be postponed until morning.
Approximately 70 CM of new snow has fallen in the mountains surrounding Fernie over the past few days. The Canadian Avalanche Centre is describing the avalanche hazard in this area as “high”. A plan is currently being developed that will involve establishing increased slope stability at the avalanche site before the search can resume at first light.
RCMP resources from Elk Valley Detachment and E Division are working with Fernie Search and Rescue and Provincial Emergency Program officials to assist with the search. RCMP avalanche trained police dogs are currently en-route to the scene.
The families of the missing snowmobilers have been notified about this tragedy. No further information will be released at this time. Additional information will be released on Monday. Please monitor www.bc-rcmp.ca for information about a media availability in the Fernie area.
Last edited:
P
PaulWatt
Member
I really hope that it's better than it sounds. That totally sucks. I really feel for the families of the people that may have been lost.
I also think people should be free to make decisions for themselves. I don't want anyone telling me where I can go, or when, on public land. Slowly our freedoms are being eaten away. As long as the avalanche information is made available, and the risks of the mountains are well communicated, people should be able to make the call themselves. Also, without knowing all the details of this incident we shouldn't be Monday morning quarterbacks.
I also think people should be free to make decisions for themselves. I don't want anyone telling me where I can go, or when, on public land. Slowly our freedoms are being eaten away. As long as the avalanche information is made available, and the risks of the mountains are well communicated, people should be able to make the call themselves. Also, without knowing all the details of this incident we shouldn't be Monday morning quarterbacks.
Pray hard boys.....
H
H2SNOW
ACCOUNT CLOSED
Eight snowmobilers are missing after being buried in an avalanche near Fernie Sunday afternoon.
The snowmobilers were among a group of 11 men who were riding together in the Flathead Valley — or the Harvey Pass area — 40 kilometres southwest of Fernie.
The group had reportedly split into two when seven of them were buried in an avalanche at about 2 p.m., said RCMP spokesman Sgt. Tim Shields. As the other four tried to dig them out, they were hit by another avalanche, which buried the entire group.
All of the men, who are from nearby Sparwood, were wearing avalanche beacons.
Two of the buried riders managed to dig themselves out within 20 minutes and used their avalanche beacons to locate a third man, who was rescued after another 20 minutes of digging. Fearing a third avalanche, the three began walking out, Shields said in a news release.
Two of them were picked up by a helicopter dispatched by the Provincial Emergency Program, which had been notified of the incident at about 2:30 p.m. by automated distress calls from the snowmobilers’ communications devices, and taken to Elk Valley Hospital.
The third man was taken to hospital by ground by the Fernie Search and Rescue personnel.
All sustained minor injuries, but only one remained in hospital overnight for observation, said Interior Health Authority spokeswoman Jennifer Henkes.
A search for the others was called off Sunday evening because it was getting dark and dangerous in the valley, where about 70 centimetres of snow had fallen in the past few days, Shields said.
A plan is being developed that will involve establishing increased slope stability at the avalanche site before the search resumes this morning. RCMP avalanche trained police dogs will be used in the search.
Wayne Stamler, vice-president of the Fernie Snowmobile Association, said the area is a popular snowmobiling bowl known for its extreme terrain.
“It’s pretty rugged terrain in there and it’s a big basin. If it broke loose, a lot of snow’s going to come down,” he said. “Three got out but you can only cross your fingers that the rest are okay.”
The incident, which marks the first avalanche this season, occurred just days after the Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a special warning to recreational backcountry users in the south coast and North Shore regions. On Sunday, it described the avalanche hazard in the area as “high.”
About 70 centimetres of new snow fell in the mountains surrounding Fernie over the past few days.
Stamler said the heavy snowfall came after a deep freeze, with temperatures hovering around -30 C, and was followed by a quick thaw Saturday. The temperature was at about O C Sunday.
“It’s really warmed up; I’m assuming that’s what broke it loose,” Stamler said, adding it was bright and sunny on Sunday. “There are some big rocks on the upper half. It wouldn’t take much sunlight to warm those rocks up.”
Stamler said his group hadn’t been contacted to participate in the search. But he said most snowmobilers from the Fernie and Sparwood areas are usually prepared.
"The majority of people we ride with are well aware of the hazards and pack equipment to stay overnight and do what we need to survive," he said.
CAC forecaster James Floyer warned Friday that the avalanche danger in the Columbia Mountains south of Revelstoke to the U.S. border and east of the Okanagan Valley to Golden, Invermere and Cranbrook would increase quickly with significant snowfall.
Last winter, several people were killed in avalanches around B.C.
In January, a 29-year-old male skier died in the West Bowl area of Whistler Mountain after he and a snowboarder entered a permanently closed area and were swept over a 50-metre cliff by a small avalanche. The pair had entered a dangerous area known as Hanging Roll, which is just west of the Peak Chair. The area has been closed for 20 years and is clearly marked as a restricted area with permanent fence posts and three levels of wire cable.
Days before, another out-of-bounds incident occurred on Grouse Mountain, when a 46-year-old man and his 14-year-old son were trapped for more than six hours in a gully rated with a high avalanche probability.
Two weeks earlier, two snowmobilers died in an avalanche near 100 Mile House.
On Christmas Day last year, a 21-year-old Japanese skier was plucked from treacherous avalanche terrain on Whistler mountain in a risky helicopter rescue. He was found out of bounds, directly behind the top of Symphony Express chairlift in a steep, unpatrolled area littered with cliffs.
ksinoski@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
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The snowmobilers were among a group of 11 men who were riding together in the Flathead Valley — or the Harvey Pass area — 40 kilometres southwest of Fernie.
The group had reportedly split into two when seven of them were buried in an avalanche at about 2 p.m., said RCMP spokesman Sgt. Tim Shields. As the other four tried to dig them out, they were hit by another avalanche, which buried the entire group.
All of the men, who are from nearby Sparwood, were wearing avalanche beacons.
Two of the buried riders managed to dig themselves out within 20 minutes and used their avalanche beacons to locate a third man, who was rescued after another 20 minutes of digging. Fearing a third avalanche, the three began walking out, Shields said in a news release.
Two of them were picked up by a helicopter dispatched by the Provincial Emergency Program, which had been notified of the incident at about 2:30 p.m. by automated distress calls from the snowmobilers’ communications devices, and taken to Elk Valley Hospital.
The third man was taken to hospital by ground by the Fernie Search and Rescue personnel.
All sustained minor injuries, but only one remained in hospital overnight for observation, said Interior Health Authority spokeswoman Jennifer Henkes.
A search for the others was called off Sunday evening because it was getting dark and dangerous in the valley, where about 70 centimetres of snow had fallen in the past few days, Shields said.
A plan is being developed that will involve establishing increased slope stability at the avalanche site before the search resumes this morning. RCMP avalanche trained police dogs will be used in the search.
Wayne Stamler, vice-president of the Fernie Snowmobile Association, said the area is a popular snowmobiling bowl known for its extreme terrain.
“It’s pretty rugged terrain in there and it’s a big basin. If it broke loose, a lot of snow’s going to come down,” he said. “Three got out but you can only cross your fingers that the rest are okay.”
The incident, which marks the first avalanche this season, occurred just days after the Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a special warning to recreational backcountry users in the south coast and North Shore regions. On Sunday, it described the avalanche hazard in the area as “high.”
About 70 centimetres of new snow fell in the mountains surrounding Fernie over the past few days.
Stamler said the heavy snowfall came after a deep freeze, with temperatures hovering around -30 C, and was followed by a quick thaw Saturday. The temperature was at about O C Sunday.
“It’s really warmed up; I’m assuming that’s what broke it loose,” Stamler said, adding it was bright and sunny on Sunday. “There are some big rocks on the upper half. It wouldn’t take much sunlight to warm those rocks up.”
Stamler said his group hadn’t been contacted to participate in the search. But he said most snowmobilers from the Fernie and Sparwood areas are usually prepared.
"The majority of people we ride with are well aware of the hazards and pack equipment to stay overnight and do what we need to survive," he said.
CAC forecaster James Floyer warned Friday that the avalanche danger in the Columbia Mountains south of Revelstoke to the U.S. border and east of the Okanagan Valley to Golden, Invermere and Cranbrook would increase quickly with significant snowfall.
Last winter, several people were killed in avalanches around B.C.
In January, a 29-year-old male skier died in the West Bowl area of Whistler Mountain after he and a snowboarder entered a permanently closed area and were swept over a 50-metre cliff by a small avalanche. The pair had entered a dangerous area known as Hanging Roll, which is just west of the Peak Chair. The area has been closed for 20 years and is clearly marked as a restricted area with permanent fence posts and three levels of wire cable.
Days before, another out-of-bounds incident occurred on Grouse Mountain, when a 46-year-old man and his 14-year-old son were trapped for more than six hours in a gully rated with a high avalanche probability.
Two weeks earlier, two snowmobilers died in an avalanche near 100 Mile House.
On Christmas Day last year, a 21-year-old Japanese skier was plucked from treacherous avalanche terrain on Whistler mountain in a risky helicopter rescue. He was found out of bounds, directly behind the top of Symphony Express chairlift in a steep, unpatrolled area littered with cliffs.
ksinoski@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
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