So sad for all !!!
8 missing in avalanche near fernie
- Thread starter Jay
- Start date
F
freejay
New member
This pic is the kind of terrain it is....
Wow, all those trees missing in the center, some big slides there in the past...
I totally agree, an avy course should be mandatory when buying a mountain sled, it is very cheap in the big picture. I just bought my first mountain sled last spring and I've taken one already. Now I'm thinking about bumping up my plans to get an ABS pack...
My heart and thoughts go out to the loved ones of the victims
Didn't read the entire thread to see if anyone posted this already...
But apparently the slide come down some time yesterday.
4 were buried?
Then the other came to dig them out, when they were buried by the second slide.
3 dug themselves out, and went for help.
A whole night has gone by now, and Fernie & Dist. were just waiting for light to start searching again.
Lets hope this work out for the good boys...
But apparently the slide come down some time yesterday.
4 were buried?
Then the other came to dig them out, when they were buried by the second slide.
3 dug themselves out, and went for help.
A whole night has gone by now, and Fernie & Dist. were just waiting for light to start searching again.
Lets hope this work out for the good boys...
Has anyone dug a pit?
Easy folks...easy..Started digging pits in late November and there is a rain crust about 80cm down in the pack now. This crust is predominant all thru the Rockies and needs a warming spell to stabilize. It's happening all over: ski areas, backcountry, slackcountry etc. Not just sledders are at risk, so don't overhype the fact that sledding is going to suffer from litigation. Winter rec is dangerous and if it wasn't there would be a lot more people doing it and no freshies for the faithful Play safe and hope the snow stabilizes
Easy folks...easy..Started digging pits in late November and there is a rain crust about 80cm down in the pack now. This crust is predominant all thru the Rockies and needs a warming spell to stabilize. It's happening all over: ski areas, backcountry, slackcountry etc. Not just sledders are at risk, so don't overhype the fact that sledding is going to suffer from litigation. Winter rec is dangerous and if it wasn't there would be a lot more people doing it and no freshies for the faithful
Play safe and hope the snow stabilizes
D
DARKO
Well-known member
This report sounds like 2 maybe have "SPOT" ? Let's hope this is true !!!
Search for 8 missing snowmobilers to begin in Fernie avalanche zone
Fatalities feared after 2 avalanches trap 11 in the backcountry
Last Updated: Monday, December 29, 2008 | 7:08 AM ET Comments26Recommend75
CBC News
Rescuers in Fernie, B.C., will begin searching for eight missing snowmobilers at first light on Monday.
Eleven snowmobilers became trapped on Sunday in two avalanches that struck at Harvey Creek Pass, about 30 kilometres east of Fernie, B.C. Fernie is about 300 kilometres southwest of Calgary.
The search and rescue attempts on Sunday were called off as it grew dark and over concern another avalanche might come down on the rescuers, officials said.
Police are not yet calling Monday's mission a recovery effort. But Jennifer Henkes, a spokeswoman for the Interior Health Authority, said the authority has been informed there are fatalities, but has not been told how many to expect.
A friend of some of the trapped snowmobilers told CBC news that after nightfall two rescue beacons were still active, an indication that at least two were still alive and pushing the button to call for help.
The search and rescue team and the RCMP are expected to be on the remote scene of the avalanches to try to find the missing snowmobilers on Monday.
The rescue team will bomb the area to bring down any loose snow before entering the region.
Police will use dogs trained to search for people trapped by avalanches.
RCMP Sgt. Tim Shields said authorities were preparing for the worst.
"We know that the more time that goes by, we have to be realistic [in] that we know what happens in these type of situations," Shields said in an interview. "But we have hope."
Tragic situation
In a statement issued late Sunday, the RCMP gave this sequence of events:
* The first avalanche caught part of a group of seven snowmobilers in the Harvey Pass area, a popular back-country snowmobile destination about 40 kilometres south of Fernie.
* A second group of four riders heard their cries and came to help members of the first group dig out their fellow riders.
* They located one rider, but as they were digging him out at a depth of about three metres, a second avalanche buried the entire group, all of whom were wearing avalanche beacons.
* Two of the buried riders managed to rescue themselves in about 20 minutes and then used their avalanche beacons to locate a third buried rider, whom they rescued after another 20 minutes of digging.
* The three survivors assessed their surroundings in a large bowl with massive cornices ready to come down. Based on the risk of a third avalanche, they began walking out.
The RCMP statement, which described the situation as a tragedy, said all 11 riders involved are males from the nearby town of Sparwood. It did not give their names or ages.
Paul Kramer, president of the Fernie Snowmobilers Association, told the Globe and Mail the eight victims were avid snowmobilers. He said some of the missing were young men with families.
A helicopter sent to the scene picked up two of the three known survivors, while Fernie search and rescue personnel rescued the third, the statement said. All three sustained minor injuries and were taken to the Elk Valley Hospital. Two were discharged and the third was kept overnight but is reportedly in stable condition.
The Canadian Avalanche Centre, based in Revelstoke, said there were reports of avalanches in the area all day and warned people to stay out of the area for the next several days.
"There was significant new snowfall [Saturday] night and then a warming period into [Sunday]," said James Floyer, an avalanche forecaster with the centre. "That combination basically overloaded the snowpack and resulted in a significant number of slides, and those slides were running into the very weak pre-existing snowpack."
Search for 8 missing snowmobilers to begin in Fernie avalanche zone
Fatalities feared after 2 avalanches trap 11 in the backcountry
Last Updated: Monday, December 29, 2008 | 7:08 AM ET Comments26Recommend75
CBC News
Rescuers in Fernie, B.C., will begin searching for eight missing snowmobilers at first light on Monday.
Eleven snowmobilers became trapped on Sunday in two avalanches that struck at Harvey Creek Pass, about 30 kilometres east of Fernie, B.C. Fernie is about 300 kilometres southwest of Calgary.
The search and rescue attempts on Sunday were called off as it grew dark and over concern another avalanche might come down on the rescuers, officials said.
Police are not yet calling Monday's mission a recovery effort. But Jennifer Henkes, a spokeswoman for the Interior Health Authority, said the authority has been informed there are fatalities, but has not been told how many to expect.
A friend of some of the trapped snowmobilers told CBC news that after nightfall two rescue beacons were still active, an indication that at least two were still alive and pushing the button to call for help.
The search and rescue team and the RCMP are expected to be on the remote scene of the avalanches to try to find the missing snowmobilers on Monday.
The rescue team will bomb the area to bring down any loose snow before entering the region.
Police will use dogs trained to search for people trapped by avalanches.
RCMP Sgt. Tim Shields said authorities were preparing for the worst.
"We know that the more time that goes by, we have to be realistic [in] that we know what happens in these type of situations," Shields said in an interview. "But we have hope."
Tragic situation
In a statement issued late Sunday, the RCMP gave this sequence of events:
* The first avalanche caught part of a group of seven snowmobilers in the Harvey Pass area, a popular back-country snowmobile destination about 40 kilometres south of Fernie.
* A second group of four riders heard their cries and came to help members of the first group dig out their fellow riders.
* They located one rider, but as they were digging him out at a depth of about three metres, a second avalanche buried the entire group, all of whom were wearing avalanche beacons.
* Two of the buried riders managed to rescue themselves in about 20 minutes and then used their avalanche beacons to locate a third buried rider, whom they rescued after another 20 minutes of digging.
* The three survivors assessed their surroundings in a large bowl with massive cornices ready to come down. Based on the risk of a third avalanche, they began walking out.
The RCMP statement, which described the situation as a tragedy, said all 11 riders involved are males from the nearby town of Sparwood. It did not give their names or ages.
Paul Kramer, president of the Fernie Snowmobilers Association, told the Globe and Mail the eight victims were avid snowmobilers. He said some of the missing were young men with families.
A helicopter sent to the scene picked up two of the three known survivors, while Fernie search and rescue personnel rescued the third, the statement said. All three sustained minor injuries and were taken to the Elk Valley Hospital. Two were discharged and the third was kept overnight but is reportedly in stable condition.
The Canadian Avalanche Centre, based in Revelstoke, said there were reports of avalanches in the area all day and warned people to stay out of the area for the next several days.
"There was significant new snowfall [Saturday] night and then a warming period into [Sunday]," said James Floyer, an avalanche forecaster with the centre. "That combination basically overloaded the snowpack and resulted in a significant number of slides, and those slides were running into the very weak pre-existing snowpack."
I've never seen a year in the West with such DEEP, NEW, WIND BLOWN snow leading to severe instability in the snowpack! Please be safer that you might think is reasonable, as the risk is not worth it!
Hopeful, but doubtful, for a somewhat positive outcome!
Hopeful, but doubtful, for a somewhat positive outcome!
Prayers and sympathies to the victims and their families. Let's hope for a miracle for the remaining unaccounted for riders.
so very sad to hear!!! 
i have said it before & will say it again. take an avalanche class!!!!!!!!!! it was the best thing i ever did.
stay safe out there people. this is not a good start to the season...
i have said it before & will say it again. take an avalanche class!!!!!!!!!! it was the best thing i ever did.
stay safe out there people. this is not a good start to the season...
Sad day. Not much else I can say that hasn't already been said.
This is a horrible hit to the snowmobiling community! We need to use our heads out there and maybe wait a bit cause this layer is going to be around for awhile. RIP boys! has anyone found out if they are fellow snowesters??
First off I send my deepest regard to those involved.
Avy educated or not, all of us have been before and can be complacent. Its a fact of human nature no matter how perfect you think you are.
The fact that some people trying to help also got burried by a second avy makes this an even greater tragedy! I'm sure all of us on this thread would have been in those boots digging.
I am truly sad for this colossal tragedy, and have a strengthened will to resist temptation on those unstable slopes.
Avy educated or not, all of us have been before and can be complacent. Its a fact of human nature no matter how perfect you think you are.
The fact that some people trying to help also got burried by a second avy makes this an even greater tragedy! I'm sure all of us on this thread would have been in those boots digging.
I am truly sad for this colossal tragedy, and have a strengthened will to resist temptation on those unstable slopes.
K
Kevco
Well-known member
Hey guys lets not turn on each other. 8Brothers died. Agree to disagree for now. The terrible tragedy is 1 of the 4 who went to help is not coming home.
Down here it is Mountain Meadow mod mania (Sorry for the infringement Doc). Be safe God bless and ease the pain. I am stunned.
Down here it is Mountain Meadow mod mania (Sorry for the infringement Doc). Be safe God bless and ease the pain. I am stunned.
im heartbroken...speechless
D
Duke
Well-known member
My condolences to the families, friends and riding partners of the victims. Please stay off the hills until things stabilize, not worth putting yourself and others at risk. I commend the group that stepped up to try to rescue the buried sledders, I am deeply saddened for the loss of your friend.
Spot might work, say a foot or less, I'm guessing from research done on GPS. The antenna needs to be pointed up.
Scenario, You hit the help button, and lay it down, to go help. Some snow covers it, but it's still sitting upright, very shallow. It won't stop transmitting until the batteries are spent.
Scenario, You hit the help button, and lay it down, to go help. Some snow covers it, but it's still sitting upright, very shallow. It won't stop transmitting until the batteries are spent.
Last edited:
S
snobyrd
Well-known member
i know 2 of the victims, father and son, formaly of tumbler ridge bc. i have riddin lots with the dad in the old yamaha phazer days, and my son rode with his son last winter during a visit. i just told my son and he cant believe it. my son was cought in a slide last season, but was saved by his abs airbag. i still hav nitemares about it , not a good feeling. even the safest lookin grade can be dangerous. i ben involved in more slides in the past 5 yrs than in my previous 20 yrs of ridding.
C
cpatts2000
Well-known member
I am extremely sad to hear about this. We lost another sledder here in North Central Wash. yesterday around 3pm. The snowpack is extremely unstable here in washington as it is everywhere else. Do yourself a favor and stay off the steep stuff for a while and get some avy training.
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.
Imagine making this call............a lot of thoughts would be running through your head. I cant possibly grip the theory of leaving your group burried.
I understand rescuers wanting a safer environment but bombing and loading the victims with more snow........that cant be good??
Above sounds negative but what if where you/your group??
Prayers go out to the families.
Imagine making this call............a lot of thoughts would be running through your head. I cant possibly grip the theory of leaving your group burried.
I understand rescuers wanting a safer environment but bombing and loading the victims with more snow........that cant be good??
Above sounds negative but what if where you/your group??
Prayers go out to the families.
Avalanche and snowpack education is the best method to staying out of avalanches. Skiers have been getting into the big avalanche terrain longer then snowmobilers and are ahead as far as avalanche education. The snowmobile community is catching on and realizing that if you want to get into the steep stuff you need to know when it's ok to do so.
While natural avalanches commonly occur during snow storms most avalanches that kill people are triggered by themselves or others in their group. This means we are choosing to be in areas where we can trigger avalanches. This means we have a choice to be there or not to be there. This means that we can choose to avoid avalanche terrain when conditions are bad.
Here's a couple of quick things to think about.
First we need to learn what is avalanche terrain and what isn't. Any snow covered slope approaching 30 degrees in steepness is avalanche terrain. Keep in mind that even if you aren't on the slope proper you still can get caught if you are below a slope that approaches 30 degrees. To avoid avalanche terrain, stay off of and out from under slopes approaching 30 degrees. This is the most basic method to avoid accidents.
Second, if you choose to get into terrain with slopes approaching 30 degrees you need to know whether the snow is stable or unstable. The easiest way is to utilize your local avalanche center for current conditions. Another way is to learn about the snow so you can determine on your own if it is unstable. This method takes quite a bit of time in education and experience. If you are unsure about what stable or unstable snow is you cannot justify getting into avalanche terrain.
Third, if you choose to get into avalanche terrain a cardinal rule that will save many lives is to only expose one person at a time on or below a steep slope. That means if you are crossing underneath, everyone must wait in a safe spot for a rider to get across a slope. If you are hill climbing riders need to be clear of the bottom when another rider is climbing. Don't have lunch or take breaks below steep slopes. One person at a time on or under steep slopes is the rule.
I've been getting into avalanche terrain for 20+ years on skis and snowboards and more recently I've been utilizing snowmobiles as well. I plan to continue to get into avalanche terrain but only when the risk is low. This takes years of education and experience to realize when it's safe. One other thing that is very valuable and you MUST have if you plan on being in avalanche terrain for a long time is patience. Obviously you cannot always get on the steep stuff and you gotta remember that you'll get another chance if you wait until it's safe.
This year has started out with an unstable snowpack in many areas of the west. Many areas have a rain or rime crust that people have been talking about on this forum. Keep in mind that it's not the crust that's the weakness but rather the loose sugary (faceted) snow just above and below it that is causing the problem. The crust just makes things trickier. Things may improve but weather will dictate. Right now we need to be patient and try to fight off the lure of the fresh snow. Be careful out there people.
Brett Kobernik
Avalanche Forecaster
Utah Avalanche Center
While natural avalanches commonly occur during snow storms most avalanches that kill people are triggered by themselves or others in their group. This means we are choosing to be in areas where we can trigger avalanches. This means we have a choice to be there or not to be there. This means that we can choose to avoid avalanche terrain when conditions are bad.
Here's a couple of quick things to think about.
First we need to learn what is avalanche terrain and what isn't. Any snow covered slope approaching 30 degrees in steepness is avalanche terrain. Keep in mind that even if you aren't on the slope proper you still can get caught if you are below a slope that approaches 30 degrees. To avoid avalanche terrain, stay off of and out from under slopes approaching 30 degrees. This is the most basic method to avoid accidents.
Second, if you choose to get into terrain with slopes approaching 30 degrees you need to know whether the snow is stable or unstable. The easiest way is to utilize your local avalanche center for current conditions. Another way is to learn about the snow so you can determine on your own if it is unstable. This method takes quite a bit of time in education and experience. If you are unsure about what stable or unstable snow is you cannot justify getting into avalanche terrain.
Third, if you choose to get into avalanche terrain a cardinal rule that will save many lives is to only expose one person at a time on or below a steep slope. That means if you are crossing underneath, everyone must wait in a safe spot for a rider to get across a slope. If you are hill climbing riders need to be clear of the bottom when another rider is climbing. Don't have lunch or take breaks below steep slopes. One person at a time on or under steep slopes is the rule.
I've been getting into avalanche terrain for 20+ years on skis and snowboards and more recently I've been utilizing snowmobiles as well. I plan to continue to get into avalanche terrain but only when the risk is low. This takes years of education and experience to realize when it's safe. One other thing that is very valuable and you MUST have if you plan on being in avalanche terrain for a long time is patience. Obviously you cannot always get on the steep stuff and you gotta remember that you'll get another chance if you wait until it's safe.
This year has started out with an unstable snowpack in many areas of the west. Many areas have a rain or rime crust that people have been talking about on this forum. Keep in mind that it's not the crust that's the weakness but rather the loose sugary (faceted) snow just above and below it that is causing the problem. The crust just makes things trickier. Things may improve but weather will dictate. Right now we need to be patient and try to fight off the lure of the fresh snow. Be careful out there people.
Brett Kobernik
Avalanche Forecaster
Utah Avalanche Center
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