An avalanche with a good outcome

[NDflatlander]

LIVINGSTON, Mont.

Authorities say a North Dakota snowmobiler was rescued by friends after being buried by an avalanche north of Cooke City.

Authorities say the group was sledding near Scotch Bonnet Mountain on Wednesday afternoon, when 29-year-old Mark Abrahamson and another rider decided to "high mark," or drive their machines up a slope to see how high they could go.

The Park County sheriff's office says the high marking triggered an avalanche, which swept Abrahamson's snowmobile downhill and buried him.

Authorities say all the riders had safety equipment, including avalanche beacons. It took about 15 minutes for them to find Abrahamson and dig him out. His lips had turned blue and he did not start breathing until friend Kim Saveressig pounded his chest and jostled him.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D8TV84AG0

 

[XXL]

That is one lucky/smart guy, lucky to be alive, and smart enough to be with people who had equipment and knew how to use it.

 

[Barnes]

It's nice to see a good outcome for once in these avalance posts.

 

[snowww1]

If any riders in North Dakota are interested in a class, there is one in Bismarck on January 13th.

Four Hour Avalanche Classes
Specifically for snowmobilers

Avalanche classes coming to Bismarck January 13th, Sunday

Classes are effective, proven to save lives and affordable.

Learn: How to avoid the most common mistakes, what equipment works best, how to rescue effectively, evaluate terrain, avoid terrain traps, analyze stability and increase your skills in the mountains.

Cost $45 Must sign up in advance

Take the class with those you ride with.

Date: January 13th, 2008
Location: Best Western Ramkota Hotel. 800 S. Third St. Bismarck, ND 58504. Governor’s Room.
For room reservations call 701-258-7700 or www.bismarck.ramkota.com
Time: 9am-1pm or 3pm-7pm
To sign up: Email Mike Duffy: duffyww1@aol.com or call 970-390-9433

Four hour avalanche awareness, avoidance and rescue class.

Instructor: Mike Duffy. Level I & II Avalanche instructor Colorado Mountain College, rescue/avalanche team leader Vail Mountain Rescue Group, instructor Walter Kirch Avalanche Seminars, graduate of National Avalanche School, National Academy of Winter Guiding. Mountain Snowmobiler for 20 years.
Course content:
-Introduction to Avalanches, statistics, contributing factors.
-Avalanche reports
-Signs of instability.
-Equipment
-What to carry and what works best.
-Avalanche beacons.
-Fast and effective single and multiple burial searches.
-Rescue
-Avalanche survival methods
-Hasty search
-mistakes in rescue
-Group Dynamics
-Terrain Evaluation/terrain traps
-Preparing for your trip
-Stability Analysis
-Scenarios

 

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

Seems cooke , scotch bonnet and avey all go together.

 

[Beels]

Seems cooke , scotch bonnet and avey all go together.

and people still bang those same hills repeatedly...

 

[MTm7]

yeah i dont get it?? i never even try to climb that area. comes down every year at least once.

 

[hilpulr]

Scotch Bonnet already slid once this year and injured somebody else. Thank God he is alright!

 

[jsledder]

Man....! Let's be careful out there guys. I'm glad this is a story of a survivor.

Makes me wonder if we aren't a victim of our own desires. Are there more avalanches these days or are the machines able to get us to the places that are more prone to slide than say the machines of 10 years ago?

 

[Beels]

Makes me wonder if we aren't a victim of our own desires. Are there more avalanches these days or are the machines able to get us to the places that are more prone to slide than say the machines of 10 years ago?

I believe it's a combination of a few things. Like you said, the machines are that much better now that even marginal riders can take them where skilled riders only dared to try 10 yrs ago. The other is lack of snow in the midwest for many years now and more people have decided they'll spend the money to buy a capable sled and make 2 or 3 trips a year. (I'm one of these) The difference is, I learned early on from people that had many years experience riding in the west. Some are not so lucky and don't understand / don't want to understand or are just plain oblivious to the dangers.